The strong connection between sensory and cognitive performance in old age: not due to sensory acuity reductions operating during cognitive assessment.
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Publication Details
Output type: Journal article
Author list: Lindenberger, Scherer, Baltes
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Publication year: 2001
Journal: Psychology and Aging (0882-7974)
Volume number: 16
Issue number: 2
Start page: 196
End page: 205
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0882-7974
eISSN: 1939-1498
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
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Open access status: green
Full text URL: https://pure.mpg.de/pubman/item/item_2102259_5/component/file_2102258/UL_Strong_2001.pdf
Abstract
Cognitive aging research has documented a strong increase in the covariation between sensory and cognitive functioning with advancing age. In part, this finding may reflect sensory acuity reductions operating during cognitive assessment. To examine this possibility, the authors administered cognitive tasks used in prior studies (e.g., Lindenberger & Baltes, 1994) to middle-aged adults under age-simulation conditions of reduced visual acuity, auditory acuity, or both. Visual acuity was lowered through partial occlusion filters, and auditory acuity through headphone-shaped noise protectors. Acuity manipulations reduced visual acuity and auditory acuity in the speech range to values reaching or approximating old-age acuity levels, respectively, but did not lower cognitive performance relative to control conditions. Results speak against assessment-related sensory acuity accounts of the age-related increase in the connection between sensory and cognitive functioning and underscore the need to explore alternative explanations, including a focus on general aspects of brain aging.
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