Age-Related Differences in Acquisition of Perceptual-Motor Skills: Working Memory as a Mediator |
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Authors: | Kristen M Kennedy Ty Partridge |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology , Wayne State University , Detroit, MI, USA;2. Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University , Detroit, MI, USA;3. Department of Psychology , Wayne State University , Detroit, MI, USA |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT Aging is associated with reduced performance on information processing speed, memory, and executive functions tasks. Although older adults are also less apt in acquiring new perceptual-motor skills, it is unclear whether and how skill acquisition difficulties are associated with age-related general cognitive differences. We addressed this question by examining structural relations among measures of cognitive resources (working memory) and indices of perceptual-motor skill acquisition (pursuit rotor and mirror tracing) in 96 healthy adults aged 19–80 years of age. Three competing structural models were tested: a single (common) factor model, a dual correlated factors model, and a hierarchical dual-factor model. The third model provided the best fit to the data, indicating age differences in simple perceptual-motor skill are partially mediated by more complex abilities. |
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Keywords: | Aging Cognition Perceptual-motor Skill acquisition Working memory |
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