Abstract: Investigated the hypothesis that the influence of time of day on the efficiency of working memory is greater for older than younger adults. Groups of younger and older adults performed a working memory task on 4 consecutive days. Ss began testing in the morning (10 younger adults, mean age 25.10 yrs; 10 older adults, mean age 72.60 yrs) and the evening (10 younger adults, mean age 23.70 yrs, 10 older adults, mean age 72.90 yrs ). Objective (body temperature) and subjective (alertness ratings) measures of arousal were taken during each session. Temperature increased across the day equally for younger and older adults, whereas alertness ratings were higher in the morning for older adults and in the evening for younger adults. The efficiency of the access and deletion functions paralleled the subjective alertness rating for younger and older adults, and age-related differences in these functions were greater when individuals were tested at nonoptimal times of day. The efficiency of the response inhibition function was similar for younger and older adults and paralleled changes in body temperature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
Keywords: time of day; age differences; body temperature; alertness; working memory; arousal; response inhibition function; Physiological Arousal; Short Term Memory; Time; Responses
Notes: 1079-5014Accession Number: 2002-00208-001. First Author & Affiliation: West, Robert; U Toronto, Rotman Research Inst of Baycrest Ctr, Toronto, Canada. Release Date: 20020206. Publication Type: Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal. Media Covered: Print. Media Available: Electronic; Print. Language: English. Major Descriptor(s): Age Differences; Body Temperature; Physiological Arousal; Short Term Memory; Time. Minor Descriptor(s): Responses. Classification: Developmental Psychology (2800). Population: Human (10)Male (30)Female (40). Age Group:Adulthood (18 yrs & older) (300); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs) (320); Aged (65 yrs & older) (380); . References Available: Y.
