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Aging: working memory capacity and spatial strategies in a virtual orientation task

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Abstract

Brain networks involved in working and spatial memory are closely intertwined, outlining a potential relation between these processes, which are also affected in non-pathological aging. Working memory is a pre-requisite for other complex cognitive processes. The main aim of this study is to explore how working memory capacity (WMC) can influence the asymmetrical decline in spatial orientation strategies in an older segment of population compared to young participants. Forty-eight older adults and twelve young students took part in the study. Working memory and spatial memory were assessed using the Change Localization Task and The Boxes Room Task, respectively. In The Boxes Room Task, two different configurations assessed the use of egocentric and allocentric reference frames. Results showed that older adults with better WMC outperformed those with lower WMC in several tasks. Independently of WMC capacity, older participants performed better in the allocentric condition of The Boxes Room. In addition, young participants outscored low WMC older participants, but did not differ from high WMC older adults. Overly, these findings support the important relationship between working memory capacity and spatial orientations abilities. Thus, basic cognitive mechanisms engaged in information processing could inform about other brain processes more complex in nature, like spatial orientation skills.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank José Ramón Ibañez for his help with English. Work developed under FPU19/02157 contract by the first author.

Funding

This work was supported by MICIU [PGC2018-101680-B-I00] and FEDER program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, Almeria, Andalucía, Spain

    Joaquín Castillo Escamilla & José Manuel Cimadevilla Redondo

  2. Health Research Center, University of Almeria, Almeria, Andalucía, Spain

    Joaquín Castillo Escamilla, Irene León Estrada & José Manuel Cimadevilla Redondo

  3. Faculty of Education, International University of La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

    Irene León Estrada

  4. Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain

    Manuel Alcaraz-Iborra

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  1. Joaquín Castillo Escamilla
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Castillo Escamilla, J., León Estrada, I., Alcaraz-Iborra, M. et al. Aging: working memory capacity and spatial strategies in a virtual orientation task. GeroScience 45, 159–175 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00599-z

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