Cognitive Development Early Adulthood to Late Life

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Early Adulthood to Late LifeEarly Adulthood to Late Life

Perry’s TheoryPerry’s Theory

Interviewed college students every 4 Interviewed college students every 4 years…years…

Dualistic thinking:Dualistic thinking: right or wrong, good or right or wrong, good or badbad– Younger studentsYounger students

Relativistic thinking: Relativistic thinking: no absolute truth; no absolute truth; evaluate solutions in contextevaluate solutions in context– Older studentsOlder students

Did student’s thinking change throughout Did student’s thinking change throughout college?college?

Adaptive CognitionAdaptive Cognition

**Schaie’s theory & Labouvie-Vief’s theory****Schaie’s theory & Labouvie-Vief’s theory**

** college experience: psychological impact & dropping out **** college experience: psychological impact & dropping out **

Have you noticed any cognitive changes in Have you noticed any cognitive changes in your parents and grandparents?your parents and grandparents?

FluidFluid

CrystallizedCrystallized

Dual-component Model of Dual-component Model of Intelligence Intelligence (Baltes, 1987)(Baltes, 1987)

Basic information processingBasic information processing

Hardware of the mindHardware of the mind

Biologically-dependentBiologically-dependent

Genetically predisposedGenetically predisposed

Acquired knowledgeAcquired knowledge

Software (content-rich)Software (content-rich)

Culture-dependentCulture-dependent

Experience-basedExperience-based

Crystallized build on fluid abilitiesCrystallized build on fluid abilities

Theoretical prediction about changes in IQTheoretical prediction about changes in IQ

**Kaufman’s research****Kaufman’s research**

Schaie’s Seattle Longitudinal StudySchaie’s Seattle Longitudinal Study Sequential designSequential design

– began 1956… last testing 1998began 1956… last testing 1998– tested every 7 years (longitudinal)tested every 7 years (longitudinal)– new group of young adults at each time (cross-new group of young adults at each time (cross-

sectional)sectional)

ParticipantsParticipants– 5000+ 5000+ – age ranges from 20s to 100+age ranges from 20s to 100+– recruited from health insurance recruited from health insurance – upper 75% of SESupper 75% of SES

MeasuresMeasures– Thurstone’s 5 Primary Mental AbilitiesThurstone’s 5 Primary Mental Abilities

Choose the word that means the same as Choose the word that means the same as the one that is underlined.the one that is underlined.

FractureFracture: complete, write, break, forget: complete, write, break, forget

Verbal MeaningVerbal Meaning


If apples cost 90 cents a dozen, how much would If apples cost 90 cents a dozen, how much would 4 apples cost?4 apples cost?

1.1. 50 cents50 cents




Number AbilityNumber Ability


Write down as many things as you can that Write down as many things as you can that are yellow, or yellow more often than any are yellow, or yellow more often than any

other color. other color.

Word fluency (verbal memory)Word fluency (verbal memory)

FluidFluid

Which figure would fill in the missing square?Which figure would fill in the missing square?

Spatial OrientationSpatial Orientation

FluidFluid

Inductive ReasoningInductive Reasoning

Which letter comes next in the series?Which letter comes next in the series?

1.1. a a b b c c d ___a a b b c c d ___

2.2. a l a m a n a ___a l a m a n a ___

FluidFluid

d

o

Results: Results: Cross-sectional Cross-sectional age findingsage findings

Abilities begin to Abilities begin to decline in 40sdecline in 40s

Declines more Declines more dramatic for fluiddramatic for fluid

What is a What is a major problemmajor problem with cross-sectional research? with cross-sectional research?

Results: Results: Cohort effectCohort effect findings findings

Negative cohort shiftsNegative cohort shifts

No cohort shiftsNo cohort shifts

Positive cohort shiftsPositive cohort shifts

Results: Results: LongitudinalLongitudinal age findings age findings

Significant losses are Significant losses are not seen until late 60snot seen until late 60s

All abilities increase All abilities increase until 30s-40suntil 30s-40s

Relative stability Relative stability until 50s - 60suntil 50s - 60s

More decline in fluidMore decline in fluid

Results: Results: IndividualIndividual differences differencesEveryone shows declines in at least 1 ability by 60sEveryone shows declines in at least 1 ability by 60s

Few people show declines on all 5, even in 80sFew people show declines on all 5, even in 80s

Is the theory correct?Is the theory correct?

What accounts for the reliable declines What accounts for the reliable declines in fluid abilities?in fluid abilities?

Speed of processingSpeed of processing– Measured using Measured using simple to complex simple to complex

reaction timereaction time tasks tasks

– Higher RT number = slower speedHigher RT number = slower speed

What is a slower reaction time?What is a slower reaction time?

Slower processing speed is one of the Slower processing speed is one of the most consistent cognitive changes in most consistent cognitive changes in

adulthood!adulthood!

““Everything moves so Everything moves so fast these days!”fast these days!”

Theory: Neural network Theory: Neural network hypothesis hypothesis

InputInputOutpuOutput (RT)t (RT)

Plaques & tangles Plaques & tangles disrupt connectionsdisrupt connections

** Information Loss View **** Information Loss View **

Build new pathwaysBuild new pathways

What is the biggest cognitive What is the biggest cognitive complaint among middle-aged & complaint among middle-aged &

older adults?older adults?

““I can’t remember….”I can’t remember….”

** Memory & attention: midlife & late life** ** Memory & attention: midlife & late life**

Tulving's Memory ModelTulving's Memory ModelEpisodic memoryEpisodic memory Semantic memorySemantic memory

How is it measured in the lab?How is it measured in the lab?

Episodic memoryEpisodic memory Semantic memorySemantic memory

Personally experienced Personally experienced knowledgeknowledge

General world General world knowledgeknowledge

Episodes & eventsEpisodes & events Concepts, ideas, factsConcepts, ideas, facts

Episodic memory taskEpisodic memory task

List learning: recognition & recallList learning: recognition & recall

Do you remember any of these words from Do you remember any of these words from the in-class assignment?the in-class assignment?

cakecake bookbooksock sock carcarbatbat cupcupclockclock fishfishtreetree tabletablecartcart eggegg

cakecake bookbooksock sock carcarbatbat cupcupclockclock fishfishtreetree tabletablecartcart eggegg

Are there age differences?Are there age differences?

SmallerSmaller age differences for age differences for recognitionrecognition memory because it provides supportive memory because it provides supportive

contextcontext

Recall

Recognition

Episodic memory taskEpisodic memory task Remote (autobiographical) memoryRemote (autobiographical) memory

– cue word technique: cue word technique: how old were you?how old were you?

DogDogCarCar

Reminiscence Reminiscence bumpbump

Semantic memory tasksSemantic memory tasks Category tasks:Category tasks:

– Apple is a _______.Apple is a _______.– Linguini is a _________.Linguini is a _________.– Basil is a __________.Basil is a __________.

Lexical decision: decide if wordLexical decision: decide if word– stapastapa– stopstop– chupchup– sniffsniff

Are there age differences?Are there age differences? NO!

Word finding task: tip-of-the-tongue Word finding task: tip-of-the-tongue

abacusalbatrossbarnacle

chameleonfilament

kaleidoscope

Are there age differences?Are there age differences?

Most common memory complaintMost common memory complaint in late life is in late life is not being able to recall a word, especially not being able to recall a word, especially

namesnames!!



General world knowledgeGeneral world knowledge


Tasks: list learning,Tasks: list learning, cue cue wordswords

Tasks: category, lexical Tasks: category, lexical decision, word findingdecision, word finding



General world knowledgeGeneral world knowledge


Tasks: Tasks: list learning; cue list learning; cue wordswords

Tasks: category, lexical Tasks: category, lexical decision, word findingdecision, word finding

Older adults poorer, Older adults poorer, especially on recall tasksespecially on recall tasks

Few age differences, Few age differences, mostly for finding wordsmostly for finding words

ExpertiseExpertise

Extensive Extensive domain-specific domain-specific knowledgeknowledge Process information more Process information more efficientlyefficiently & &

deeplydeeply Solve problems Solve problems systematicallysystematically

What makes someone an expert?What makes someone an expert?

At what age do we become experts?At what age do we become experts?

Age x Expertise Interaction Age x Expertise Interaction

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Non-pilots Pilots

YoungMiddle Age

WARRIOR 4325V, TURN LEFT HEADING 180, MAINTAIN 230 KNOTS OR WARRIOR 4325V, TURN LEFT HEADING 180, MAINTAIN 230 KNOTS OR GREATER.GREATER.

WARRIOR 4325V, CLEARED TO WAUKEEGAN VIA DIRECT BUFFR J518 WARRIOR 4325V, CLEARED TO WAUKEEGAN VIA DIRECT BUFFR J518 DIRECT DJB J34 TO ALPHE TO JOIN J70 DIRECT PMM V170 DIRECT DIRECT DJB J34 TO ALPHE TO JOIN J70 DIRECT PMM V170 DIRECT

BRAVE DIRECT. MAINTAIN 3000, EXPECT 14000 ONE ZERO MINUTES BRAVE DIRECT. MAINTAIN 3000, EXPECT 14000 ONE ZERO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. DEPARTURE FREQUENCY IS 126.45, SQUAWK AFTER DEPARTURE. DEPARTURE FREQUENCY IS 126.45, SQUAWK

2011. 2011.

Expertise reduces age Expertise reduces age differences only when differences only when

task… task…

… … relies heavily on relies heavily on domain-specific domain-specific

knowledge.knowledge.

What does it mean to be wise? Who is wise?What does it mean to be wise? Who is wise?

WisdomWisdom

“Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and

think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.”

Purpose of this assignment is to become Purpose of this assignment is to become familiar with methods used to assess familiar with methods used to assess

wisdom and identifying criteria for wisdom.wisdom and identifying criteria for wisdom.

How would you respond?How would you respond?

In-Class Assignment 7In-Class Assignment 7

5 criteria for wisdom 5 criteria for wisdom (Baltes & Staudinger, 1993)(Baltes & Staudinger, 1993)

example responses example responses

Wisdom is stable across most of adulthood! Wisdom is stable across most of adulthood!

Does wisdom come with age?Does wisdom come with age?

But, people nominated as wise are usually older…But, people nominated as wise are usually older…

Wisdom is related to experience, & age & experience Wisdom is related to experience, & age & experience are relatedare related

Clinicians are “experts” in Clinicians are “experts” in pragmatics of lifepragmatics of life

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Cognitive Development Early Adulthood to Late Life