Younger and older adults were compared in 4 directed forgetting experiments. These varied the use of categorized versus unrelated word lists item by blocked remember-forget cueing procedures. Consistent with L. Hasher R. T. Zacks's (1988) hypothesis impaired inhibitory mechanisms adults, a variety findings indicated that this age group is less able than younger to suppress processing retrieval items designated as be forgotten (TBF). Specifically, comparison produced more TBF intrusions on an...

We examined which dimensions of the situation model (time, space, causation, motivation, and protagonist) are monitored by readers during narrative comprehension. Clause or sentence reading times were collected in three experiments analyzed using multiple-regression analyses. Experiment 1 showed that temporal, causal, goal-related, protagonist-related continuity because discontinuities on these led to reliable increases times. This was not case for spatial continuity. Prior reading,...

The stream of action in life, virtual environments, film, and narratives is parsed into events. This parsing has consequences for memory. transition from one event to another can impede memory some ways but improve it others. Whether impairment or improvement occurs depends on the nature information how later remembered. Event Horizon Model comprehension goes beyond more traditional accounts influence context cognition explain these phenomena.

Previous research using virtual environments has revealed a location-updating effect in which there is decline memory when people move from one location to another. Here we assess whether this reflects the influence of experienced context, terms degree immersion person an environment, as suggested by some work spatial cognition, or shift context. In Experiment 1, was reduced smaller displays. comparison, 2 actual, rather than virtual, environment used, maximize immersion. Location-updating...

The forgetting curve is one of the most well known and established findings in memory research. Knowing pattern change over time can provide insight into underlying cognitive mechanisms. default understanding that follows a continuous, negatively accelerating function, such as power function. We show this incorrect. first consider whether rates vary across different intervals reported literature. found there were patterns periods. Next, we evidence complex memories, those derived from event...

The information one acquires in daily life concerns specific people and events about which has prior knowledge. A theory of social cognition is proposed to account for the comprehension verification such information. views as a process constructing situation models new on basis previously formed its referents. specifies conditions statements familiar (e.g., "Jane Fonda does aerobics") are spontaneously recognized true or false comprehending them. It further these spontaneous validity...

Younger and older adults were tested for their ability to process retrieve information from texts. The authors focused on the construction retrieval of situation models relative other types text representations. results showed that during memory retrieval, younger superior surface form textbase knowledge (what was), whereas had equivalent or model was about). also reading, similar in sensitivity various aspects Overall, these findings suggest although there are age-related declines...

Explanations of data from fan effect experiments have been based on propositional network models. This article presents findings not readily predicted by such In particular, in three we found that, during a speeded-recognition test, subjects retrieved facts about several objects associated with single location faster than locations object. Indeed, there was no the former case despite fact that were an equivalent number associations among concepts both conditions. We suggest are consistent...

The fan effect paradigm was used to investigate age-related changes in the effects of different levels interference on retrieval. Younger and older adults learned a list person-activity "facts" which each person activity occurred 1, 2, or 3 facts (fan level). A subsequent speeded recognition test required participants distinguish from foils constructed by recombining same concepts. On this test, both groups showed an increase response time errors as level probe increased. For these were...

Older adults express greater prejudice than younger adults, but it is not clear why. In a community-based sample, we found that older White demonstrated more racial on an implicit measure, the race Implicit Association Test, did adults. Process-dissociation procedures indicated this difference in was due to having less control of their automatic prejudicial associations rather stronger associations. Furthermore, age mediated by age-related deficits inhibitory ability. participants showed...

When people read narratives, they often need to update their situation models as the described events change. Previous research has shown little no increases in reading times for spatial shifts but consistent temporal shifts. On this basis, researchers have suggested that updating does not regularly occur, whereas does. The current study looked more deeply into time pattern updating. If prior interpretation is correct, then absence of a increase reflects failure model. Two experiments...

Mind wandering occurs when a person's stream of thought moves from the primary task to task-unrelated matters. Some theories mind suggest that it is caused by decreased attentional control associated with lower working memory (WM) capacity. Others attention being directed toward internally generated thoughts and higher WM These ideas were assessed testing older adults because they have been argued reduced The first account predicts should increase in adults, while second opposite. Two...

Expressions describing the spatial relation between two objects can be interpreted from a perspective defined by (intrinsic) or viewer environment (deictic-extrinsic) Identifying factors that govern selection of one over another is an important step in understanding interaction language and perception In experiments, we explored influence functional on formulation expression relating Both rating production tasks showed people preferred to use intrinsic descriptions presence deictic-extrinsic...

Four experiments tested the hypothesis that people who are concerned with impression management cope stereotype threat through denial. Consistent this hypothesis, temporary employees threatened by a of incompetence (Study 1) and hostel-dwelling older adults 2) were more likely to deny if they high in management. African Americans 3) showed similar pattern denying cognitive incompetence, which emerged primarily when interviewed White experimenter had attended predominantly Black school. In...

Most studies investigating the use of goal information in narrative comprehension have focused more on increased availability uncompleted or failed relative to completed information. The current study does opposite. Two experiments were conducted determine fate Three possibilities considered: (a) that remains available than neutral information, (b) decays baseline, (c) is suppressed below baseline. results indicate These are related theories how causal affects comprehension.