Ear asymmetry in recognition of unfamiliar voices

Female right-handed subjects were presented with a memory set consisting of five unfamiliar female voices. They were then tested with a recognition procedure in which samples of voice, memory set or novel, 2 or 4 sec in duration, were heard in one ear and a competing noise stimulus was heard in the other ear. There was an overall left-ear advantage in accuracy of recognition. This advantage held particularly for identifications of memory-set voices in the second half of trials. Internal analyses indicated that the left-ear advantage could not be attributed to greater retroactive interference during right-ear presentation. Congruent with studies of recognition of unfamiliar faces, the findings suggested right-hemisphere superiority in the recognition of unfamiliar voices.     

Are self-perceptions of ageing modifiable? Examination of an exercise programme with vs. without a self-perceptions of ageing-intervention for older adults

Objective: Longitudinal studies have consistently shown beneficial effects of positive self-perceptions of ageing (SPA) on health. However, SPA are more often negative than positive, particularly in older adults. For this reason, the present study tested the effectiveness of an intervention to promote more positive SPA in the context of an exercise programme for older adults.

Design: Eighty-four community-dwelling older adults (66-88 years; M(SD)=76.8(5.29)) were randomly assigned to a group-based exercise programme over 12 weeks with (n?=?46) or without (n?=?38) a psychological intervention to change SPA, consisting of four intervention units over the programme period.

Main Outcome Measures: A gain- and a loss-related domain of SPA were assessed at baseline, after the first half of the programme, directly after the programme and in a follow-up four weeks later.

Results: Latent change score models showed an improvement of participants’ SPA in the intervention group in both SPA domains after the programme, whereas SPA did not change in the control group. Both groups showed an improvement in physical performance, however, only the IG showed additional improvements in mental health.

Conclusion: The implementation of an SPA intervention is a promising approach in regular health promotion programmes for older adults.