Age differences in integrated semantic memory for abstract sentences

Abstract

The Bransford and Franks paradigm of linquistic abstraction was used to examine age differences in the nature of stored semantic information. Young (28, mean age 18.9 yr) and old (27, mean age 70.8 yr) human adults served as subjects. Specifically, age differences on 2 dimensions of memory were examined: integration of related content from separate sentences and retention of precise semantic content. Young and old differed in the precision of retained semantic content. Both age groups evidenced integration of information as indexed by a strong linear trend of recognition rate across sentence complexity and this trend did not interact with age, supporting the idea that both age groups showed comparable integration of abstract linguistic information into holistic ideas. The implications of these findings are considered in relation to current conceptualizations of age differences in memory and new directions for research are proposed.