Adult age differences in learning and generalization of feedback-based associations

Psychology and Aging
Jessica R Simon, Mark A Gluck

Abstract

Feedback-based associative learning (e.g., acquiring new associations from positive or negative outcomes) and generalization (e.g., applying past learning to new settings) are important cognitive skills that enable people to make economic decisions or social judgments. This ability to acquire new skills based on feedback and transfer those experiences to predict positive outcomes in novel situations is essential at all ages, but especially among older adults who must continually adapt to new people, environments, and technologies. Ample evidence from animal work, clinical research, and computational modeling has demonstrated that feedback-based associative learning is sensitive to basal ganglia dysfunction and generalization to medial temporal lobe dysfunction. This dissociation is relevant because of recent evidence that has suggested healthy aging compromises the basal ganglia system earlier than the medial temporal lobes. However, few studies have investigated how healthy aging influences these cognitive processes. Here, we examined both feedback-based associative learning and generalization in younger, middle-aged, and older adults using a computerized acquired equivalence task. Results revealed a significant effect of age ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 20, 2015·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Krystyna A MathiakKlaus Mathiak
May 25, 2018·Medical Teacher·V J GrantA Cheng
Nov 26, 2019·Journal of Neuroscience Research·Manon EddeSandra Chanraud
Sep 6, 2018·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Layla DangJessica R Petok

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