Verbal Knowledge as a Compensation Determinant of Adult Age Differences in Verbal Fluency Tasks over Time |
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Authors: | H Sauzéon C Raboutet J Rodrigues S Langevin M A Schelstraete P Feyereisen M Hupet B N’Kaoua |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Cognition & Human Factors, University of Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France;(2) Psychological Sciences Research Institute, UCL, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium |
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Abstract: | The aim of this study was to determine whether verbal knowledge can compensate for the age-related decline in word production
during a fluency test. We assessed the performance of 20 young and 20 old subjects in standard letter and semantic fluency
tasks over time (T1: 0–30 s vs. T2: 31–60 s). The number of words produced, switching, and clustering components (Troyer et
al. Neuropsychology, 11(1): 138–146, 1997) were investigated. Correlations between age and cognitive factors (processing speed, executive functions, and vocabulary
level) were analyzed. The results revealed a knowledge compensation mechanism in elderly subjects, but only in letter fluency
productions. It only occurred during the second period and was related to an increase in the clustering component and a positive
correlation between age and vocabulary level. The differences between letter and semantic fluency performances are discussed
in terms of the nature of the non-semantic and semantic components involved in these tasks. |
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Keywords: | |
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