Differential age effects in semantic and episodic memory.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Results from 4 experimental tasks and 8 data sets (the 4 tasks involved either multiple sessions or different stimuli) as well as a vocabulary test conducted on the same 80 participants (40 younger and 40 older adults) are reported. The authors employed 2 semantic memory tasks (lexical decision and multiplication verification) using data from 2 sessions (for a total of 4 semantic data sets) and 2 episodic memory tasks (hybrid visual search and memory search with digits and with words as stimuli). Factor analyses using slope and intercept data from the 8 experimental data sets indicated the presence of 3 latent factors: a single intercept factor for both episodic and semantic tasks and separate slope factors for episodic and semantic tasks. A structural equation model with paths from age to 3 different 1st-order latent factors (episodic central processes, semantic central processes, and combined episodic and semantic peripheral processes) fit better than general factor models. These data are consistent with a theoretical framework in which there are age-related dissociations between peripheral and central processes across semantic and episodic memory.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Allen, PA; Sliwinski, M; Bowie, T; Madden, DJ

Published Date

  • March 2002

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 57 / 2

Start / End Page

  • P173 - P186

PubMed ID

  • 11867665

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1079-5014

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/geronb/57.2.p173

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States