Age-related decline in associative learning in healthy Chinese adults

Paired associates learning (PAL) has been widely used in aging-related research, suggesting an age-related decline in associative learning. However, there are several cognitive processes (attention, spatial and recognition memory, strategy, and associative learning) involved in PAL. It is unclear wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2013-11, Vol.8 (11), p.e80648-e80648
Main Authors: Lee, Annie, Archer, Jo, Wong, Caroline Kai Yun, Chen, Shen-Hsing Annabel, Qiu, Anqi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
Age
Age effects
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Associative learning
Associative memory
Attention
Automation
Biomedical engineering
Brain research
China
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Dementia
Female
Humans
Learning
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Older people
Paired-Associate Learning - physiology
Pattern recognition
Performance evaluation
Recall
Recognition
Recognition (Psychology)
Spatial discrimination learning
Spatial memory
Strategy
Studies
Vocabulary development
Volumetric analysis
Young Adult
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Summary:Paired associates learning (PAL) has been widely used in aging-related research, suggesting an age-related decline in associative learning. However, there are several cognitive processes (attention, spatial and recognition memory, strategy, and associative learning) involved in PAL. It is unclear which component contributes to the decline in PAL performance associated with age effects. The present study determines whether age effects on associative learning are independent of other cognitive processes involved in PAL. Using a validated computerized cognitive program (CANTAB), we examined cognitive performance of associative learning, spatial and recognition memory, attention and strategy use in 184 Singaporean Chinese adults aged from 21 to 80 years old. Linear regression revealed significant age-related decline in associative learning, spatial and recognition memory, and the level of strategy use. This age-related decline in associative learning remains even after adjusting for attention, spatial and recognition memory, and strategy use. These results show that age effects on associative learning are independent of other cognitive processes involved in PAL.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0080648