The effects of aging on the working memory processes of multimodal information

Abstract

Normal aging is associated with deficits in working memory processes. However, the majority of research has focused on storage or inhibitory processes using unimodal paradigms, without addressing their relationships using different sensory modalities. Hence, we pursued two objectives. First, was to examine the effects of aging on storage and inhibitory processes. Second, was to evaluate aging effects on multisensory integration of visual and auditory stimuli. To this end, young and older participants performed a multimodal task for visual and auditory pairs of stimuli with increasing memory load at encoding and interference during retention. Our results showed an age-related increased vulnerability to interrupting and distracting interference reflecting inhibitory deficits related to the off-line reactivation and on-line suppression of relevant and irrelevant information, respectively. Storage capacity was impaired with increasing task demands in both age groups. Additionally, older adults showed a deficit in multisensory integration, with poorer performance for new visual compared to new auditory information.

Strengthening of Existing Episodic Memories Through Non-invasive Stimulation of Prefrontal Cortex in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Complaints

“…There is evidence that episodic memory declines with age ( Spencer and Raz, 1995 ; Balota et al, 2000 ; Salthouse, 2010 ; Rhodes and Katz, 2017 ; Solesio-Jofre et al, 2017 ). Subjective memory complaints (SMC) refer to self-reports of memory decline with objective memory performance in the normal range ( Vannini et al, 2017 ).…”