增龄性联结记忆损伤及其影响因素

老年人的联结记忆随年龄增长而出现普遍损伤, 这种增龄性联结记忆损伤究竟是因捆绑功能受损导致的特定损伤还是因整体认知机能受损导致的信息表征能力的整体损伤, 还存有争论。以Naveh-Benjamin (2000)的联结损伤假说(ADH)为代表的特定损伤观认为, 增龄性联结记忆损伤与老年人捆绑不同项目和提取这些捆绑的特定加工过程的损伤有关; 而以Benjamin (2010)的DRYAD模型为代表的整体损伤观则认为, 增龄性联结记忆损伤与老年人因老化而导致的记忆保持精度的整体损伤有关。二者在基本观点、实验支持及存在问题上各有侧重。此外, 影响增龄性联结损伤的因素还可大致分为刺激信息特性、被试主体特点两方面。同时强调未来研究不仅要关注老年人联结损伤的认知机制和影响因素, 更应关注其实际应用和临床指导价值。

Age-related associative memory deficit and its influential factors

Associative memory is generally impaired with age in older adults. It continues to be controversial about the mechanism of age-related associative memory deficit, whether the age-related associative memory deficit is a specific deficit caused by impaired binding function or a global deficit of information representation caused by impaired global cognitive function. The specific deficit view represented by the Associative Deficit Hypothesis (ADH) proposed by Naveh-Benjamin (2000) believed that the age-related associative memory deficit was associated with a deficit of specific processing processes for encoding and retrieving the binding of items in older adults. However, the global deficit view represented by the DRYAD model proposed by Benjamin (2010) suggested that the age-related associative memory deficit was linked to the global deficit in memory fidelity in the elderly. Both the ADH and the DRYAD model predict that associative memory will be impaired in older adults, but these two theories have their own different assumptions, corresponding empirical evidence, and some potential limitations. In addition, the factors affecting the age-related associative deficit were discussed from two aspects: the characteristics of the stimuli and participants. Future studies should not only focus on the cognitive mechanism and influencing factors of the age-related associative deficit, but also pay more attention to its practical application and clinical guiding value.