Age comparisons of serial position effects in short-term memory

摘要: Abstract Memory for serial position in four-item lists of words or abstract designs was tested at retention intervals 5–25 seconds two subject groups, aged 25–35 and 60–75 years; accuracy choice reaction times (RT) were recorded. Increasing the interval transformed curve from recency to primacy but produced no overall reduction memory performance terms accuracy. RTs varied as a function both interval. Under all conditions older subjects less accurate they exhibited longer compared young subjects, age differences did not interact with list either response indicator. The results suggest that can be explained by single factor mental speed limiting encoding efficiency affecting decision times.