Retest learning in the absence of item-specific effects: does it show in the oldest-old?

Psychol Aging. 2012 Sep;27(3):701-6. doi: 10.1037/a0026719. Epub 2011 Dec 26.

Abstract

This study examined whether the nonitem-specific retest learning effects, previously shown with young-old adults primarily in their 60s and 70s, could be extended to oldest-old adults aged 80 and onward. Twenty-one oldest-olds participated in an 8-session retest training program with three ability domains: perceptual speed, inductive reasoning, and visual attention. Their data were compared with the data of 30 young-olds collected in a previous work (Yang, Reed, Russo, & Wilkinson, 2009). The two age groups showed largely equivalent retest learning effects. In addition, only young-olds were able to benefit from item-specific retest learning, specifically in reasoning and perceptual speed tests.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Attention
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Practice, Psychological
  • Retention, Psychology / physiology