Age-related changes in duration reproduction: Involvement of working memory processes

Verbal Knowledge as a Compensation Determinant of Adult Age Differences in Verbal Fluency Tasks over Time

“…This corroborates the findings of Bryan et al (1997) concerning the role of vocabulary in the compensatory mechanism in letter fluency tasks, but also those indicating that education and vocabulary levels are strong predictors of letter fluency performance with age (Henry and Phillips 2006). The negative mediation of processing speed as well as executive functions on the ageclustering relationship indicated that the age-related decline in letter fluency was linked to the role of speed processing and executive function (Barringer et al 1996;Baudouin et al 2006;Bryan and Luszcz 2000;Crawford et al 2000;Mayr and Kliegl 2000;Park et al 1996;Perrotin et al 2006;Raz 2000;Salthouse 1996;West 1996). The presence of both the negative (processing speed and executive functions) and positive mediation of vocabulary supports the compensation view (Salthouse 1998), where an age-related process decline (i.e., processing speed and executive function) is offset by an optimized intact process (i.e., vocabulary).…”

“…Particularly, numerous studies have demonstrated a reduction in the execution speed of cognitive operations and a deficit in the executive processes needed for temporary information storage and simultaneous performance of several tasks (Barringer et al 1996;Baudouin et al 2006;Braver and West 2008;Bryan and Luszcz 2000;Crawford et al 2000;Mayr and Kliegl 2000;Park et al 1996;Perrotin et al 2006;Raz 2000;Salthouse 1996;West 1996). Conversely, little difference has been found between younger and older adults concerning semantic knowledge, and age differences were often in favor of older adults, indicating that semantic knowledge is not impaired in old age (Ackerman 2008;Horn 1982;Mayr and Kliegl 2000;Salthouse 1991Salthouse , 1993Troyer et al 1997).…”

Brief Report: Impaired Temporal Reproduction Performance in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Vanneste, Similarities between adults with ASDs and older adults have been made in relation to other aspects of memory performance, such as free recall and task support (see Bowler, 2007). With respect to time reproduction, Baudouin et al (2006) suggest that older adults underperform because of a decreased ability to store the internal timing pulses which determine performance. This would lead to systematic duration underestimation in a reproduction task.…”

Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…These tasks are characterised by intervals which last in the seconds range, are unpredictable, and irregular. Research has shown that these types of tasks are heavily associated with the right dorso-lateral-prefrontal-cortex, and seem to draw upon the same resources as both verbal and visuo-spatial working memory tasks (Lewis & Miall, 2006;Baudouin, Vanneste, Isingrini, Pouthas, 2006). This relationship with areas of the frontal cortex and working memory is very relevant to executive theories of autism, which conceive some of the characteristics of autism (such as restricted interests, and stereotypic behaviour), in terms of deficits in executive functioning.…”

“…With respect to time reproduction, Baudouin et al (2006) suggest that older adults underperform because of a decreased ability to store the internal timing pulses which determine performance. This would lead to systematic duration underestimation in a reproduction task.…”