General Slowing and Education Mediate Task Switching Performance Across the Life-Span

Frontiers in Psychology
Luca MorettiAntonino Vallesi

Abstract

Objective: This study considered the potential role of both protective factors (cognitive reserve, CR) and adverse ones (general slowing) in modulating cognitive flexibility in the adult life-span. Method: Ninety-eight individuals performed a task-switching (TS) paradigm in which we adopted a manipulation concerning the timing between the cue and the target. Working memory demands were minimized by using transparent cues. Additionally, indices of cognitive integrity, depression, processing speed and different CR dimensions were collected and used in linear models accounting for TS performance under the different time constraints. Results: The main results showed similar mixing costs and higher switching costs in older adults, with an overall age-dependent effect of general slowing on these costs. The link between processing speed and TS performance was attenuated when participants had more time to prepare. Among the different CR indices, formal education only was associated with reduced switch costs under time pressure. Discussion: Even though CR is often operationalized as a unitary construct, the present research confirms the benefits of using tools designed to distinguish between different CR dimensions. Furthermore, our res...Continue Reading

References

Feb 1, 1966·Journal of Experimental Psychology·P M Rabbitt
Nov 1, 1995·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·T A Salthouse, E J Meinz
Nov 1, 1993·Psychological Bulletin·R Ratcliff
Sep 1, 1993·Journal of Gerontology·T A Salthouse, V E Coon
Jul 1, 1996·Psychological Review·T A Salthouse
Nov 26, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A Baddeley
Oct 30, 1998·Psychology and Aging·Timothy A SalthouseDavid Z Hambrick
Oct 26, 1999·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·A T BeekmanM J Prince
Feb 25, 2000·Biological Psychology·M FalkensteinJ Hohnsbein
Apr 13, 2000·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·B A Keys, D A White
Sep 27, 2000·Psychological Research·G Wylie, A Allport
Mar 14, 2001·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·N MeiranA Perlman
Mar 21, 2002·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Katherine D Arbuthnott, Todd S Woodward
Jul 26, 2002·Brain and Cognition·Jutta KrayUlman Lindenberger
Dec 10, 2002·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Paul Verhaeghen, John Cerella
Mar 18, 2003·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Stephen Monsell
Jun 27, 2003·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Susan Turk CharlesLaura L Carstensen
Jun 1, 1961·Archives of General Psychiatry·A T BECKJ ERBAUGH
Nov 1, 2003·Experimental Psychology·Todd S WoodwardPeter Graf
Apr 9, 2005·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Ziad S NasreddineHoward Chertkow
Aug 3, 2005·Developmental Psychology·Stian Reimers, Elizabeth A Maylor
Oct 7, 2005·Psychological Medicine·Michael J Valenzuela, Perminder Sachdev
Jan 6, 2006·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·Orit Rubin, Nachshon Meiran
Mar 30, 2006·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·Gordon D Logan, Darryl W Schneider
Jun 30, 2006·Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition. Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition·Paul VerhaeghenChandramallika Basak
Sep 7, 2006·Psychology and Aging·Jessica L PaxtonTodd S Braver
Mar 17, 2007·Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition. Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition·Julie M BuggHasker P Davis
May 2, 2007·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·Erik M Altmann
Apr 1, 2008·Neuropsychologia·Sylvie BellevilleSerge Gauthier
Apr 12, 2008·Brain and Cognition·Robert West, Stephanie Travers
May 1, 2008·Psychological Research·Edita PoljacHarold Bekkering
Jan 9, 2009·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe, Chad Sanders
Feb 20, 2009·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·James A Grange, George Houghton

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 29, 2020·Psychophysiology·Mariagrazia CapizziAntonino Vallesi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Windows

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.