Lisa Geraci1, Matthew L Hughes2, Tyler M Miller3, Ross L De Forrest1. 1. a Department of Psychology , Texas A&M University, College Station , Texas , USA. 2. b Department of Psychology , Brandeis University , Waltham , Massachusetts , USA. 3. c Department of Psychology , South Dakota State University , Brookings , South Dakota , USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: Negative aging stereotypes can lead older adults to perform poorly on memory tests. Yet, memory performance can be improved if older adults have a single successful experience on a cognitive test prior to participating in a memory experiment (Geraci & Miller, 2013, Psychology and Aging, 28, 340-345). The current study examined the effects of different types of prior task experience on subsequent memory performance. METHODS: Before participating in a verbal free recall experiment, older adults in Experiment 1 successfully completed either a verbal or a visual cognitive task or no task. In Experiment 2, they successfully completed either a motor task or no task before participating in the free recall experiment. RESULTS: Results from Experiment 1 showed that relative to control (no prior task), participants who had prior success, either on a verbal or a visual task, had better subsequent recall performance. Experiment 2 showed that prior success on a motor task, however, did not lead to a later memory advantage relative to control. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that older adults' memory can be improved by a successful prior task experience so long as that experience is in a cognitive domain.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: Negative aging stereotypes can lead older adults to perform poorly on memory tests. Yet, memory performance can be improved if older adults have a single successful experience on a cognitive test prior to participating in a memory experiment (Geraci & Miller, 2013, Psychology and Aging, 28, 340-345). The current study examined the effects of different types of prior task experience on subsequent memory performance. METHODS: Before participating in a verbal free recall experiment, older adults in Experiment 1 successfully completed either a verbal or a visual cognitive task or no task. In Experiment 2, they successfully completed either a motor task or no task before participating in the free recall experiment. RESULTS: Results from Experiment 1 showed that relative to control (no prior task), participants who had prior success, either on a verbal or a visual task, had better subsequent recall performance. Experiment 2 showed that prior success on a motor task, however, did not lead to a later memory advantage relative to control. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that older adults' memory can be improved by a successful prior task experience so long as that experience is in a cognitive domain.