Episodic memory contributions to autobiographical memory and open-ended problem-solving specificity in younger and older adults.

Episodic memory contributions to autobiographical memory and open-ended problem-solving specificity in younger and older adults.
Mem Cognit. 2019 Jun 18;:
Authors: Peters SL, Fan CL, Sheldon S
Abstract
Research indicates that episodic memory processes are required to access specific autobiographical events and the details encompassed by a single event for several functions, including remembering and personal problem solving. Since healthy cognitive aging is associated with episodic memory decline, we hypothesized that older adults would be impaired at producing specific autobiographical events and details in service of these two functions. To test this hypothesis, younger and older adults completed two tasks (generation and elaboration) across two experiments (autobiographical memory and problem solving). The generation task required participants to produce multiple specific event memories or solutions to cues within a 90-s time period. The elaboration task required participants to select a single memory or solution to describe in detail. We quantified the number of specific and non-specific responses provided during the generation task and scored the descriptions from the elaboration task for the number of episodic (internal) and non-episodic (external) details. Across experiment, older adults produced fewer specific responses (generation task) and fewer internal details (elaboration task) than younger adults. In addition, older adu...

Source: Memory and Cognition - June 21, 2019 Category: Neuroscience Tags: Mem Cognit Source Type: research