Memory for spatial layouts in relation to age and schema typicality.

The hypothesis that prior experience, specifically a knowledge-based schema for typical house layouts, can compensate for age declines in spatial memory was evaluated in 4 experiments. Old and young adults explored and subsequently recalled house layouts presented 1 room at a time on a computer screen. The findings failed to support the compensation hypothesis in that schema-relevant layouts facilitated recall equivalently for the 2 age groups. Violation of a typical house schema had a more negative effect on recall of the older group. Individual differences in spatial visualization ability explained much of the age difference in performance but not the effects of schema manipulations. It was concluded that there is age invariance in the facilitatory effects of relevant prior knowledge on spatial memory but an age-related decrease in the ability to inhibit irrelevant prior knowledge.