Abstract
Memory performances were studied in a group of 22 old (65–74 years) and 29 very old (75–91 years) women, and compaired with performances of a group of 31 middle-aged (35–49 years) women, matched for socio-economic and cultural level. The intellectual level did not differ significantly as estimated by the Terman Vocabulary test, but in Raven’s Coloured Matrices there was a considerable decline with age. Digit span forwards and still more backwards was reduced with age.
To study memory performances, a test comprising three subtests, 30 figures, 30 word pairs and 30 personal data were used. Remembering was studied both immediately after presentation of the material (immediate memory score) and three hours later (delayed memory score), the difference between the two being forgetting scores. A considerable decline of immediate and delayed memory scores with age was found, but forgetting measures did not increase. The regression lines between immediate and delayed scores were also quite similar. The findings indicate a pronounced decline of registration with age but do not show any decline of retention, such a decline of course not being disproved.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Literature
Barbizet, J.: Defect of memorizing of hippocampo-mamillary origin: a review. J. Neurol, neurosurg. psychiat. 26, 127–135 (1963)
Barbizet, J., and E. Cany: A psychometric study of various memory deficits associated with cerebral lesions. In: The Pathology of Memory (G. Talland and N. Waugh, eds.), pp. 49–64, Academic Press Inc., New York (1969).
Canestrari, R.: Age changes in acquisition. In: Human Aging and Behavior (G. Talland, ed.), pp. 169–188, Academic Press Inc., New York (1968).
Cronholm, B.: L’application des méthodes psychologiques dans 1’analyse des troubles de la memoire. Rev. psychol. appl. 13, 171–188 (1963).
Cronholm, B.: Post-ECT amnesias. In: The Pathology of Memory (G. Talland and N. Waugh, eds.), pp. 81–89, Academic Press Inc., New York (1969).
Cronholm, B., and L. Molander: Memory disturbances after electroconvulsive therapy. 1. Conditions 6 hours after electroshock treatment. Acta psychiat. scand. 32, 280–306 (1957).
Cronholm, B., and J.-O. Ottosson: Memory functions in endogenous depression before and after electrocon-vulsive therapy. Arch. gen. psychiat. 5, 193–199 (1961).
Cronholm, B., and J.-O. Ottosson: Reliability and validity of a memory test battery. Acta psychiat. scand. 39, 218–234 (1963).
Cronholm, B., J.-O. Ottosson, and D. Schalling: The memory variables learning and retention in relation to intelligence and age in adults. Acta psychiat. scand. Suppl. 219: Studies Dedicated to Erik Essen-Möller, pp. 50–58, Vol. 46 (1970).
D’elia, G. (ed.): Unilateral electroconvulsive therapy. Acta psychiat. scand. Suppl. 215 (1970).
Eisdorfer, C.: Arousal and performance: Experiments in verbal learning and a tentative theory. In: Human Aging and Behavior (G. Talland, ed.), pp. 189–216, Academic Press Inc., New York (1968).
Hulicka, I., and R. Weiss: Age differences in retention as a function of learning. J. Consult. Psychol. 29, 125–129 (1965).
Mcnulty, J. A., and W. K. Caird: Memory loss with age: An unsolved problem. Psychol. Rep. 20, 283–288 (1967).
Ottosson, J. O. (ed.): Experimental studies of the mode of action of electroconvulsive therapy. Acta psychiat. scand. Suppl. 145, 103–131, Vol. 35 (1960).
Schonfield, D., and B. A. Robertson: Memory and storage and aging. Canad. J. Psychol. 20, 228–236 (1966).
Talland, G.: Deranged memory. Academic Press Inc., New York (1965).
Talland, G.: Age and the immediate memory span. The Gerontologist 7, 4–9 (1967).
Wimer, R. E.: A supplementary report on age differences in retention over a twenty-four hour period. J. Geront. 15, 417–418 (1960).
Wimer, R. E., and B.-T. Wigdor: Age differences in retention of learning. J. Geront. 13, 291–295 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1973 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cronholm, B., Schalling, D. (1973). A Study of Memory in Aged People. In: Zippel, H.P. (eds) Memory and Transfer of Information. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2052-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2052-4_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2054-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2052-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive