Abstract
We investigated the age-related decline of working memory functions, such as processing time, processing accuracy, and storage accuracy in older participants (N = 110; aged 60-84 years), by using complex span tasks. Participants were divided into three age groups: early 60s (n = 30), late 60s (n = 45), and over 70s (n = 35). There were no significant differences in the years of education between the groups. All participants completed complex span tasks that were automated versions of the operation span task, the reading span task, and the symmetry span task. Results indicated that there were no significant differences in processing accuracy and storage accuracy between the groups. However, the processing time of participants in the over 70s group was longer than that of the other two groups. These results suggest that processing time, or speed, influence the age-related decline of working memory functions in older adults.
