ADULT AGE DIFFERENCES IN REASONING AND SPATIAL ABILITIES

提出了两组研究来调查年龄- 推理和空间能力的相关损伤可归因于 工作记忆的某些方面随着年龄的增长而下降。一组 研究将试图确定工作记忆的哪些方面是最重要的 受年龄增长的影响，并确定 在持续的认知过程中获得的记忆测量 任务和故意设计来评估记忆功能的任务。 第二组研究将侧重于年龄， 工作记忆，以及推理和空间任务的表现， 认知功能两组研究的主要目标是 具体说明与年龄相关的工作记忆限制如何有助于 在典型认知任务中表现较低。最终 希望这项研究能通过以下方面来说明具体的机制： 这增加了年龄，并可能导致各种与健康有关的 条件，影响个人的认知功能水平。

Two sets of studies are proposed to investigate the hypothesis that age- related impairments in reasoning and spatial abilities are attributable to a decrease with age in certain aspects of working memory. One set of studies will attempt to identify which aspects of working memory are most influenced by increased age, and to determine the relationship between measures of memory obtained during the processing of on-going cognitive tasks and from tasks deliberately designed to assess memory functioning. the second set of studies will focus on the interrelations of age, working memory, and performance in reasoning and spatial tasks of cognitive functioning. A primary goal of both sets of studies is to specify how age-related limitations of working memory might contribute to lower levels of performance in prototypical cognitive tasks. Ultimately it is hoped that this research will indicate the specific mechanisms by which increased age, and potentially a variety of health-related conditions, influence an individuals's level of cognitive functioning.