BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown repetition priming for objects between vision and touch, environmental sounds and pictures in young and older adults. METHODS: This preliminary study investigated whether repetition priming exists for edible stimuli and if it is preserved in healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 investigated whether cross-modal repetition priming between taste and olfaction is preserved with age and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The results of Experiment 1 showed significant repetition priming effects for edible stimuli presented to taste, but there was a significant decrease in performance with age and cognitive decline. Experiment 2 showed cross-modal taste to olfactory priming in young adults and healthy older people, but the performance of older adults with MCI did not differ from zero. Again, identification decreased significantly in older adults and was absent in those with MCI. CONCLUSIONS: Implicit memory for stimuli presented to taste persists in healthy older adults and those with MCI, although their performance declined compared to young adults. The finding of cross-modal taste and olfactory priming suggests the connection between these two chemosensory perceptual modalities.
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown repetition priming for objects between vision and touch, environmental sounds and pictures in young and older adults. METHODS: This preliminary study investigated whether repetition priming exists for edible stimuli and if it is preserved in healthy older adults and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 investigated whether cross-modal repetition priming between taste and olfaction is preserved with age and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The results of Experiment 1 showed significant repetition priming effects for edible stimuli presented to taste, but there was a significant decrease in performance with age and cognitive decline. Experiment 2 showed cross-modal taste to olfactory priming in young adults and healthy older people, but the performance of older adults with MCI did not differ from zero. Again, identification decreased significantly in older adults and was absent in those with MCI. CONCLUSIONS: Implicit memory for stimuli presented to taste persists in healthy older adults and those with MCI, although their performance declined compared to young adults. The finding of cross-modal taste and olfactory priming suggests the connection between these two chemosensory perceptual modalities.