Aging and Performance on Implicit Memory Tasks: A Brief Review

Abstract

Older adults exhibit poorer performance than younger adults on tests of recall and recognition. Recall and recognition are labeled explicit memory tasks; they require conscious recollection of a previous learning experience. This paper deals with the performance of elderly people on tasks that do not require intentional recollection—so-called implicit memory tasks. It appears that older subjects perform normally on perceptual implicit tasks, but show somewhat reduced priming in conceptual implicit tasks. This finding is in accordance with the neu-roanatomical changes in old age. Implications for theories of implicit memory are discussed.

Key Words:

• implicit memory
• priming
• aging