Short-term memory predictions across the lifespan: monitoring span before and after conducting a task |
| |
Authors: | Julie Marilyne Bertrand Chris John Anthony Moulin |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. LEAD UMR CNRS 5022, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France;2. LPNC UMR CNRS 5105, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France |
| |
Abstract: | Our objective was to explore metamemory in short-term memory across the lifespan. Five age groups participated in this study: 3 groups of children (4–13 years old), and younger and older adults. We used a three-phase task: prediction–span–postdiction. For prediction and postdiction phases, participants reported with a Yes/No response if they could recall in order a series of images. For the span task, they had to actually recall such series. From 4 years old, children have some ability to monitor their short-term memory and are able to adjust their prediction after experiencing the task. However, accuracy still improves significantly until adolescence. Although the older adults had a lower span, they were as accurate as young adults in their evaluation, suggesting that metamemory is unimpaired for short-term memory tasks in older adults.Highlights:?We investigate metamemory for short-term memory tasks across the lifespan.?We find younger children cannot accurately predict their span length.?Older adults are accurate in predicting their span length.?People’s metamemory accuracy was related to their short-term memory span. |
| |
Keywords: | Metamemory overconfidence lifespan short-term memory |
|
|