scholarly journals The Survival Effect in Memory: Does It Hold into Old Age and Non-Ancestral Scenarios?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Yang ◽  
Karen P.L. Lau ◽  
Linda Truong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Survival Scenario ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Encoding Strategies ◽  
Matched Comparison ◽  
Survival Effect

The survival effect in memory refers to the memory enhancement for materials encoded in reference to a survival scenario compared to those encoded in reference to a control scenario or with other encoding strategies [1]. The current study examined whether this effect is well maintained in old age by testing young (ages 18–29) and older adults (ages 65–87) on the survival effect in memory for words encoded in ancestral and/or non-ancestral modern survival scenarios relative to a non-survival control scenario. A pilot study was conducted to select the best matched comparison scenarios based on potential confounding variables, such as valence and arousal. Experiment 1 assessed the survival effect with a well-matched negative control scenario in both young and older adults. The results showed an age-equivalent survival effect across an ancestral and a non-ancestral modern survival scenario. Experiment 2 replicated the survival effect in both age groups with a positive control scenario. Taken together, the data suggest a robust survival effect that is well preserved in old age across ancestral and non-ancestral survival scenarios.

scholarly journals The Survival Effect in Memory: Does It Hold into Old Age and Non-Ancestral Scenarios?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Yang ◽  
Karen P.L. Lau ◽  
Linda Truong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Survival Scenario ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Encoding Strategies ◽  
Matched Comparison ◽  
Survival Effect

The survival effect in memory refers to the memory enhancement for materials encoded in reference to a survival scenario compared to those encoded in reference to a control scenario or with other encoding strategies [1]. The current study examined whether this effect is well maintained in old age by testing young (ages 18–29) and older adults (ages 65–87) on the survival effect in memory for words encoded in ancestral and/or non-ancestral modern survival scenarios relative to a non-survival control scenario. A pilot study was conducted to select the best matched comparison scenarios based on potential confounding variables, such as valence and arousal. Experiment 1 assessed the survival effect with a well-matched negative control scenario in both young and older adults. The results showed an age-equivalent survival effect across an ancestral and a non-ancestral modern survival scenario. Experiment 2 replicated the survival effect in both age groups with a positive control scenario. Taken together, the data suggest a robust survival effect that is well preserved in old age across ancestral and non-ancestral survival scenarios.

scholarly journals Basic And Evolutionary Survival Effects In Adaptive Memory Of Younger And Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen P.L. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Adaptive Memory ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Survival Scenario ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Memory Advantage ◽  
Survival Effect

Adaptive memory is a memory advantage for stimuli encoded in a survival scenario (e.g., stranded in grasslands) relative to a control scenario (Nairne, Thompson & Pandeirada, 2007). Basic (survival vs. non-survival scenarios) and evolutionary survival effects (high-evolutionary survival vs. low-evolutionary survival scenarios) in adaptive memory were explored in two age groups. Little research has been done with older adults. An extensive pilot study was conducted to select best matched control scenarios. Experiment 1 explored age differences in adaptive memory with a within-subjects manipulation of scenarios and found an age-equivalent basic survival effect. Experiment 2 replicated the basic survival effect in younger adults with a between-subjects design. Considering the age-related preference for processing positive information in older adults, Experiment 3 examined the survival effect with a positive control scenario. Similar results to the previous experiments were found. Overall, the data demonstrated a robust but age equivalent basic survival effect.

scholarly journals Basic And Evolutionary Survival Effects In Adaptive Memory Of Younger And Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen P.L. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Adaptive Memory ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Survival Scenario ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Memory Advantage ◽  
Survival Effect

Adaptive memory is a memory advantage for stimuli encoded in a survival scenario (e.g., stranded in grasslands) relative to a control scenario (Nairne, Thompson & Pandeirada, 2007). Basic (survival vs. non-survival scenarios) and evolutionary survival effects (high-evolutionary survival vs. low-evolutionary survival scenarios) in adaptive memory were explored in two age groups. Little research has been done with older adults. An extensive pilot study was conducted to select best matched control scenarios. Experiment 1 explored age differences in adaptive memory with a within-subjects manipulation of scenarios and found an age-equivalent basic survival effect. Experiment 2 replicated the basic survival effect in younger adults with a between-subjects design. Considering the age-related preference for processing positive information in older adults, Experiment 3 examined the survival effect with a positive control scenario. Similar results to the previous experiments were found. Overall, the data demonstrated a robust but age equivalent basic survival effect.

scholarly journals Internet Use in Old Age: Results of a German Population-Representative Survey

10.2196/15543 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. e15543
Author(s):  
Janine Quittschalle ◽  
Janine Stein ◽  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Margrit Löbner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
German Population ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

Background The internet has the potential to foster healthy lifestyles and to support chronic disease management. Older adults could benefit from using the internet and other information and communication technology to access health-related information and interventions available online. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate factors influencing internet use in older and oldest age groups and to determine the frequency of internet use for health-related purposes. Methods Using data from a nationally representative telephone survey of older adults aged 75 years and over, a sample of 999 people was assessed using structured clinical interviews. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Overall, 42.6% (418/999) of participants used the internet. Among those, 55.7% (233/417) searched the internet for health-related information. Regression analyses revealed that internet use was significantly associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.92; P<.001), male gender (OR 2.84, 95% CI 2.02-4.00; P<.001), higher education levels (OR 6.69, 95% CI 4.48-9.99; P<.001), a wider social network (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07; P=.01), higher health-related quality of life (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03; P=.006), lower levels of depressive symptoms (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.99; P=.04), and higher rates of chronic illness (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21; P<.004). Conclusions This study provides population-representative data on internet use in old age in Germany. People in the older and oldest age groups participate in online activities. Understanding the factors that are associated with older adults internet use can contribute to developing tailored interventions and eHealth (electronic health) services to improve well-being in older adults.

scholarly journals Age-related changes in visual encoding strategy preferences during a spatial memory task

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislava Segen ◽  
Marios N Avraamides ◽  
Timothy J. Slattery ◽  
Jan Wiener
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Object Locations ◽  
Visual Encoding ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Encoding Strategies ◽  
Encoding Strategy

Ageing is associated with declines in spatial memory, however, the source of these deficits remains unclear. Here we used eye-tracking to investigate age-related differences in spatial encoding strategies and the cognitive processes underlying the age-related deficits in spatial memory tasks. To do so we asked young and older participants to encode the locations of objects in a virtual room shown as a picture on a computer screen. The availability and utility of room-based landmarks was manipulated by removing landmarks, presenting identical landmarks rendering them uninformative, or by presenting unique landmarks that could be used to encode object locations. In the test phase, participants viewed a second picture of the same room taken from the same (0°) or a different perspective (30°) and judged whether the objects occupied the same or different locations in the room. We found that the introduction of perspective shift and swapping of objects between encoding and testing impaired performance in both age groups. Furthermore, our results revealed that although older adults performed the task as well as younger participants, they relied on different visual encoding strategies to solve the task. Specifically, gaze analysis revealed that older adults showed a greater preference towards a more categorical encoding strategy in which they formed relationships between objects and landmarks.

scholarly journals Internet Use in Old Age: Results of a German Population-Representative Survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Quittschalle ◽  
Janine Stein ◽  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Margrit Löbner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
German Population ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND The internet has the potential to foster healthy lifestyles and to support chronic disease management. Older adults could benefit from using the internet and other information and communication technology to access health-related information and interventions available online. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate factors influencing internet use in older and oldest age groups and to determine the frequency of internet use for health-related purposes. METHODS Using data from a nationally representative telephone survey of older adults aged 75 years and over, a sample of 999 people was assessed using structured clinical interviews. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Overall, 42.6% (418/999) of participants used the internet. Among those, 55.7% (233/417) searched the internet for health-related information. Regression analyses revealed that internet use was significantly associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.92; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), male gender (OR 2.84, 95% CI 2.02-4.00; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), higher education levels (OR 6.69, 95% CI 4.48-9.99; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), a wider social network (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07; <i>P</i>=.01), higher health-related quality of life (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03; <i>P</i>=.006), lower levels of depressive symptoms (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.99; <i>P</i>=.04), and higher rates of chronic illness (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21; <i>P</i>&lt;.004). CONCLUSIONS This study provides population-representative data on internet use in old age in Germany. People in the older and oldest age groups participate in online activities. Understanding the factors that are associated with older adults internet use can contribute to developing tailored interventions and eHealth (electronic health) services to improve well-being in older adults.

Different dimensions of ageist attitudes among men and women: a multigenerational perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 895-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehud Bodner ◽  
Yoav S. Bergman ◽  
Sara Cohen-Fridel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Age Range

ABSTRACTBackground: Ageism, a form of prejudice in which one relates negatively to people due to their age, exists throughout life. However, no attempt has been made to compare ageist attitudes across the life cycle, from young adulthood to old age. Consequently, the current study examined age and gender differences in ageism throughout adulthood.Methods: 955 Israeli participants (age range: 18–98 years) were divided into three age-groups: young (18–39), middle-aged (40–67), and old (68–98), and were administered the Fraboni Scale of Ageism. Age and gender differences were examined both for the three groups and for subgroups within the older adult cohort.Results: Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that middle-aged participants were significantly more ageist than younger and older groups. Across all age groups, men exhibited more avoidance and stereotypical attitudes toward older adults than women. Among the old age group, participants aged 81–98 held more ageist stereotypes and reported more avoidance of older adults than those aged 68–73. Within the older adult cohort, gender was a significant predictor for ageist attitudes among those aged 68–73 and 81–98, but not for people aged 74–80.Conclusions: Ageism demonstrates a changing pattern across the life span. While gender differences remain stable, ageist attitudes toward growing old as we age ourselves are constantly changing. In order to gain a better understanding of ageism as a general and global phenomenon, we need to consider the role of such attitudes in different stages of life.

The Definition and Categories of Positive Solitude: Older and Younger Adults’ Perspectives on Spending Time by Themselves

2020 ◽  
pp. 009141502095737
Author(s):  
Sharon Ost Mor ◽  
Yuval Palgi ◽  
Dikla Segel-Karpas
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Definition Of

This paper attempts to develop a better understanding of the positive solitude (PS) phenomenon and its meaning among age groups, as well as formulate a unanimous definition for PS. A qualitative study ( N = 124) was conducted. Participants were gerontology professionals and laypeople. Interviews were conducted and content was analyzed in order to understand the essence of PS, themes, and subthemes. Two major categories were found: the essence and the components of the PS experience. Seven PS content categories and three meta-themes were raised: (1) PS is a matter of choice; (2) PS is satisfying and enjoyable; and (3) PS is meaningful. Differences in PS categories between younger and older adults were found. The meta-themes served as the foundation of a new definition. PS has different attributes in old age. A unified definition of PS may help distinguishing between PS and other forms of being alone. Recognizing and facilitating the PS experience among older adults might be beneficial and contribute to their quality of life.

scholarly journals Age-related differences in visual encoding and response strategies contribute to spatial memory deficits

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislava Segen ◽  
Marios N Avraamides ◽  
Timothy J. Slattery ◽  
Jan Wiener
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Visual Encoding ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Gaze Patterns ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
Encoding Strategies

Successful navigation requires the ability to memorise and recognise the locations of objects across different perspectives. Although these abilities rely on hippocampal functioning that is susceptible to degeneration in older adults, little is known about the effects of ageing on encoding and response strategies that are used to recognise spatial configurations. To investigate this, we asked young and older participants to encode the locations of objects in a virtual room shown as a picture on a computer screen. Then, we asked participants to view a second picture of the same room taken from the same (0°) or a different perspective (45° or 135°), and judge whether the objects occupied the same or different locations. Results revealed that older adults had overall greater difficulty with the task than younger adults and that the introduction of perspective shift between encoding and testing impaired performance in both age groups. With diffusion modelling we also found that older adults adopted a more conservative response strategy while the analysis of gaze patterns revealed an age-related shift in visual encoding strategies with older adults attending to more information when memorising the positions of objects in space.

scholarly journals Age-related changes in visual encoding strategy preferences during a spatial memory task

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislava Segen ◽  
Marios N. Avraamides ◽  
Timothy J. Slattery ◽  
Jan M. Wiener
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Object Locations ◽  
Visual Encoding ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Encoding Strategies ◽  
Encoding Strategy

AbstractAgeing is associated with declines in spatial memory, however, the source of these deficits remains unclear. Here we used eye-tracking to investigate age-related differences in spatial encoding strategies and the cognitive processes underlying the age-related deficits in spatial memory tasks. To do so we asked young and older participants to encode the locations of objects in a virtual room shown as a picture on a computer screen. The availability and utility of room-based landmarks were manipulated by removing landmarks, presenting identical landmarks rendering them uninformative, or by presenting unique landmarks that could be used to encode object locations. In the test phase, participants viewed a second picture of the same room taken from the same (0°) or a different perspective (30°) and judged whether the objects occupied the same or different locations in the room. We found that the introduction of a perspective shift and swapping of objects between encoding and testing impaired performance in both age groups. Furthermore, our results revealed that although older adults performed the task as well as younger participants, they relied on different visual encoding strategies to solve the task. Specifically, gaze analysis revealed that older adults showed a greater preference towards a more categorical encoding strategy in which they formed relationships between objects and landmarks.

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