Young and Older Adults May Utilize Different Cognitive Abilities When Performing a Spatial Recognition Memory Test With Varying Levels of Similarity

Abstract

We used signal detection theory to evaluate spatial recognition memory utilizing a behavioral test hypothesized to tax pattern separation. Correlations with standardized neuropsychological tests also were examined. Healthy young ( n = 40) and older ( n = 30) adults completed a spatial recognition memory test involving high- and low-similarity conditions. Using d’ as the dependent variable, we found that older adults were significantly impaired relative to young adults on the high- and low-similarity conditions ( ps < .05). Both groups performed significantly better in the low-similarity condition compared to the high-similarity condition ( p < .05), with young adults exhibiting greater improvement relative to older adults. We also found that young adults may rely on spatial attention abilities when performing our test, while older adults might rely on memory and executive function abilities. These findings indicate that young and older adults may utilize different cognitive abilities when performing certain spatial memory tests.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and mnemonic discrimination across the adult lifespan

“…The results are in line with literature on deleterious age effects on episodic memory both in the spatial (Moffat and Resnick 2002;Erickson et al 2009;Rodgers et al 2012;DeFord et al 2020) and nonspatial domains (Yassa et al 2011;Holden et al 2013;Stark et al 2013;Bernstein and McNally 2019). Importantly, within the same participants, we find comparable age-related effects on memory disambiguation performance in both spatial and nonspatial tasks.…”