PSYC 357 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Long-Term Memory, Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Standardized Test
25 Mar 2013
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Document Summary
Chapter six: basic cognitive functions: information processing, attention and memory. Researchers within the information processing perspective regard the cognitive functioning of humans as comparable to the functioning of a computer. Theories about changes in the overall quality of information processing in adulthood are based on studies of psychomotor speed. Amount of time it takes to process a signal, prepare a response and then execute that response. Age complexity hypothesis: proposes that through slowing of central processes in the nervous system, age differences increase as tasks become more complex and processing resources are stretched more and more to their limit. Aging reduces available cognitive resources (older adults have less energy available) Aging reduces ability to tune out irrelevant information. Implies that older adults focus most effectively when distractions are minimized. Aging reduces the ability to take context into account. * performance on certain attentional tasks (ex: stroop task) can be improved with practice, regardless of age.
