Learning and vulnerability to phonological and semantic interference in normal aging: an experimental study

This study compares semantic and phonological interference vulnerability across the full range of learning processes. Method: 43 controls aged 61-88 underwent a neuropsychological examination, French adaptation of the LASSI-L, and an experimental phonological test, the TIP-A. Paired sample t-tests,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memory (Hove) 2023-02, Vol.31 (2), p.297-314
Main Authors: Chasles, M.-J., Joubert, S., Cole, J., Delage, E., et Rouleau, I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Disorders
French language
Humans
LASSI-L
Learning
Learning processes
Learning transfer
Memory
Memory, Short-Term
Neuropsychological assessment
Neuropsychology
normal aging
Phonological interference
Phonology
Proactive interference
semantic interference
Semantics
Short term memory
Word lists
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Summary:This study compares semantic and phonological interference vulnerability across the full range of learning processes. Method: 43 controls aged 61-88 underwent a neuropsychological examination, French adaptation of the LASSI-L, and an experimental phonological test, the TIP-A. Paired sample t-tests, factorial ANOVA and hierarchical regressions were conducted, psychometric properties were calculated. Results: TIP-A efficiently generated phonological interference between concurrent word lists and was associated with short-term memory, unlike LASSI-L. On LASSI-L, proactive interference was higher than retroactive interference; the opposite pattern was found on TIP-A. Memory performance was better explained by age in the semantic than in the phonological task. Age was not associated with interference vulnerability. Intrusions and false recognition were associated with cognitive functioning regardless of age, particularly in the semantic context. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess phonological and semantic interference using homologous concurrent word list tasks, and not a working memory build-up or DRM paradigm. The pattern obtained illustrates the weak initial memory trace in a phonological context and results are discussed according to depth-of-processing and dual-process theories. Similar paradigms could be studied among various pathologies for a better understanding of generalised interference vulnerability vs. specific semantic or phonological impairment.
ISSN:0965-8211
1464-0686
DOI:10.1080/09658211.2022.2154366