1. Module 11-3 Memory & Aging

2. Memory Prospective memory remains strong when events help trigger memories. -For some types of learning and remembering, early adulthood is known as the critical period. -An experiment led by Thomas Crook and Robin West revealed that an individual is more likely to remember more names after being introduced a second or third time. -Study shows that when given a jolt of caffeine, recognition memory is better for older adults early in the day rather than late. -Forgetfulness plays a role in memory; for when asked to recall meaningless information it is more likely for the individual to have no recollection or make more errors regarding the information. -One memory that remains strong is Prospective memory.

3. Name-Recalling vs. Number of Introductions As shown in this graph, older age groups have a harder time recalling the names of people they have been introduced to. This name-recalling difficulty causes the average person to lose the ability to remember someone’s name after a certain number of introductions. From ages 18-39, a higher percentage of people can recall a name. However, an average decline of about 35% occurs after a period of 70-90 years.

4. Aging -Experiment conducted by David Schonfield and Betty Anne Robertson shows that there is no appreciable difference in recognition memory between younger and older adults, although younger adults have better recall. -- Older people’s capacity to learn and remember skills also decline less than their verbal recall -- Right through our later years, we continue to diverge. Some 70-year- olds perform below nearly all 20-year-olds; other 70-year-olds match or outdo the average 20-year-old.

5. Word Recalling vs. Recognition As seen in this graph, the ability to recognize words between the ages of 20-60 remains stable and increases because of their accumulation of knowledge throughout life. However, the recalling of words from ages 20-60 steadily declines due to the fact that memory loss increases as age increases. Therefore, the older you become the easier the ability to recognize new information, but the recalling of new information seems to decline with age.