How older adults use cognition in sentence-final word recognition

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of executive control and working memory on older adults’ sentence-final word recognition. The question we addressed was the importance of executive functions to this process and how it is modulated by the predictability of the speech material. To this end, we tested 173 neurologically intact adult native English speakers aged 55–84 years. Participants were given a sentence-final word recognition test in which sentential context was manipulated and sentences were presented in different levels of babble, and multiple tests of executive functioning assessing inhibition, shifting, and efficient access to long-term memory, as well as working memory. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we found that better inhibition was associated with higher accuracy in word recognition, while increased age and greater hearing loss were associated with poorer performance. Findings are discussed in the framework of semantic control and are interpreted as supporting a theoretical view of executive control which emphasizes functional diversity among executive components.

KEYWORDS:

• Word recognition
• babble
• predictability
• executive functions
• working memory

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants of this study for their time and efforts. We would also like to thank Keely Sayers, Elaine Dibbs, Rossie Clark-Cotton, Shelley Amberg, Josh Berger, Dr. Jason Cohen and Dr. Jordan Awerbach for help in collecting the data, and Mitch Spring for helping compile and format the references.

Disclosure statement

All authors verify that they have no financial or personal conflict of interest with this article

Notes

1. Two participants used hearing aids during the SPIN-R test. Their exclusion from analyses had no appreciable impact on the pattern of results reported here.

2. When we compared hearing measures between study participants assessed in the two conditions, we found a slight but significant difference in favor of those tested in hearing booths (Fletcher of 13.8 for those tested in a booth, vs. 18.0 for those tested in a room (t (160) = 2.39, p < .02). However, when we adjusted for testing room in our final model, we did not find a significant effect (b = -.054, p > .35).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH) [grant number R01-AG014345], with Dr. Albert and Dr. Obler as Co-Principal Investigators. Dr. Spiro is the recipient of a Senior Research Career Scientist Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Sciences Research and Development Program, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He is also a co-investigator on grants from the NIH [grant number R01-AG014345], [grant number R24-AG039343], [grant number R01-AG032037], [grant number R01-AG018436], [grant number R01-AG034554].