This lecture contains all the information from the fourth lecture of the course Neuropsychology of Ageing at the VU. The summary is supplemented with pictures from the slides and extensive notes from the professor.
HC4: Language, visuospatial functions, normal brain ageing
Language
Age effect language functions varies
Difficulties identifying spoken words
o In particular words that share phonology with many other words. High
phonological density (e.g., vet (red, bet, set), bill (will, drill, kill) vs low
phonological density (e.g., voice, girl) = older adults are at a disadvantage.
o Not due to hearing loss: which is quite common with ageing
o Not due to loss knowledge of words: the loss of knowledge is hardly affected
by ageing
o Inhibition deficit: inhibit candidates with similar phonology (words which
sounds similar)
Vocabulary maintained with ageing, or even
improvement: vocabulary older adults larger
than in younger adults more time to learn new
words. The extend of vocabulary seems to
continuously grow onto high ages.
o Superior performance on NART (how to
pronounce words) or other vocabulary
tests
o Vocabulary starts to decline only in 80s or
90s. If at all!
o Graphs: slight improvement! Especially
bottom graph
o Vocabulary unaffected by age
Word production, retrieval of word sounds, declines
o More difficulties language production, in particular retrieving correct word
o The problem is not in the semantics system (words are not lost)
o Problem is in retrieving the correct phonology for that words which allows you
to produce that word. Language production systems: knowledge about words
is stored in semantic system, while this is transferred into sounds in
phonological system to produce words.
Tip of the tongue state (TOT): you know what the word is, but you
can’t come up with it more naturally occurring TOTs in older adults
– diary study. Eventually, information was not lost: 97% resolved!
Explanation TOT: result insufficient transmission of activation
to correct phonological codes. Ageing reduces transmission of
activation more TOTs
Temporarily unable to produce well-known word
Most common with proper names. Proper names are most vulnerable.
Lack of meaning, because of few semantic connections. Single link
representation of person and their name. Baker vs. baker study: baker
as occupation was retrieved many more times than when Baker was
used as a name.
Syntactic processing declines
, o Understanding and producing complex syntax declines with ageing. This is
linked to impairments in working memory = syntax comprehension
Older adults are less accurate to answer questions about sentences
with complex syntax (like who hired the lawyer questions)
Subjective-relative: the author who insulted the critic hired a
lawyer
Object-related: the author who the critic insulted hired a lawyer
Older adults less accurate judging plausibility in complex sentences:
Simple: it was the movie that terrified the child because it
showed a monster
Complex: it was the child that the movie terrified because it
showed a monster
Accuracy associated with WM capacity (e.g., reading span) heavy
demand on WM
o Older adults poorer WM scores than young adults
o Participants with higher WM capacity less affected by
syntactic complexity. Better capacity perform better
on reading span less affected by syntactic
complexity
o Syntax production:
Speech older adults: shorter
utterances with simpler syntactic
structure than younger adults
Elicit sentence production
(Kemper, Herman & Lian, 2003)
“produce a sentence, as
quickly as possible, using
the words presented on the
computer screen”, 2, 3, or 4
words (passenger deck,
rope). E.g., the angry
passenger holding the rope
claimed the ship was
sinking at the dock.
WM may contribute to age
effect in sentence
production (4 words is more
demanding older adults
fewer complex sentences and less words used)
Language effects in normal ageing:
Overall, age effect language is modest:
o Difficulties in identifying spoken words
o Clear age effect word production (retrieving word from lexicon)
o Syntax comprehension and production declines with age
o Vocabulary improves with age
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