Age effects on explicit and implicit memory

Abstract

It is well-documented that explicit memory (e.g., recognition) declines with age. In contrast, many argue that implicit memory (e.g., priming) is preserved in healthy aging. For example, priming on tasks such as perceptual identification is often not statistically different in groups of young and older adults. Such observations are commonly taken as evidence for distinct explicit and implicit learning/memory systems. In this article we discuss several lines of evidence that challenge this view. We describe how patterns of differential age-related decline may arise from differences in the ways in which the two forms of memory are commonly measured, and review recent research suggesting that under improved measurement methods, implicit memory is not age-invariant. Formal computational models are of considerable utility in revealing the nature of underlying systems. We report the results of applying single and multiple-systems models to data on age effects in implicit and explicit memory. Model comparison clearly favors the single-system view. Implications for the memory systems debate are discussed.

The frequency of involuntary autobiographical memories and future thoughts in relation to daydreaming, emotional distress, and age

“…In contrast, we should not expect an age-related decline for the past dimension of the IAMI following the theoretical position that involuntary autobiographical memories form a basic mode of remembering that requires less executive processes and therefore may show less age-related impairments (Berntsen, 2009; 2012; Hall et al, 2014). This would also be consistent with research suggesting that older individuals show less decrement in performance on memory tasks that are assumed to involve less cognitive effort, although findings are mixed (see Ward, Berry & Schanks, 2013, for review and discussion). Study 4 was undertaken to examine this issue.…”

Multiple determinants of lifespan memory differences

“…This claim has been contested by recent modelling efforts that allow for different measurement noise in each type of test820. Importantly, our use of SEM allowed us to address this possibility by modelling test-specific residual variance.…”

A benefit of context reinstatement to recognition memory in aging: the role of familiarity processes

“…It is widely believed that implicit memory is preserved in normal aging, in contrast to reduced explicit memory (reviewed in Fleischman, 2007; but see Ward, Berry, & Shanks, 2013a, 2013bWard, de Mornay Davies, & Politimou, 2015). It has been suggested that the beneficial use of context information in item recognition involves implicit processes, whereas recall/recognition of target-context associations involves explicit processes.…”