Effect of a simple experimental control: The recall constraint in Sternberg's memory scanning task

This study was aimed at determining how a simple experimental control—recalling the sequence of digits in the order they were presented—may affect quantitative and qualitative performance in Sternberg's short-term memory scanning paradigm. First, the presence or absence of this constraint was shown to have practically no effect on the relationship between sequence length and mean response time: the two general laws proposed by Sternberg were found to hold true in both experimental conditions. However, subjects who had to recall the digit sequence were consistently slower than those who did not, and the yes response curves of the two experimental conditions differed in shape. Moreover, correlations between parameters of the linear function and various aptitude scores showed that this task was linked to the memory span only when the participants had to recall the digit sequence. If our results are confirmed, they should help to improve the interpretation of the data collected in many studies that use this paradigm in cognitive psychology as well as in neuroscience of memory.     

Dynamics of team cognition and team adaptation: Introduction to the special issue

Although cognitions are known to play a major role in team adaptation, the cognitive dynamics underlying a team’s responsiveness are poorly understood. The studies brought together in this special issue break new ground in this area. In this introductory article, we offer a brief summary of the research field, provide an overview of the contributions, and suggest directions for future research.     

Cognitive aging and flight performances in general aviation pilots

Unlike professional pilots who are limited by the FAA's age rule, no age limit is defined in general aviation. Our overall goal was to examine how age-related cognitive decline impacts piloting performance and weather-related decision-making. This study relied on three components: cognitive assessment (in particular executive functioning), pilot characteristics (age and flight experience), and flight performance. The results suggest that in comparison to chronological age, cognitive assessment is a better criterion to predict the flight performance, in particular because of the inter-individual variability of aging impact on cognitive abilities and the beneficial effect of flight experience.