抄録
The relationship between self-efficacy and higher brain functions in normal middle and elderly people was examined. Participants were 608 community dwellers in Japanese rural town (their age ranged from 40 to 91 years old). The higher brain functions were measured by means of logical memory test, Stroop test, D-CAT (test for the assessment of attention or executive function) and verbal fluency test. The results showed that normal middle and elderly people with high self-efficacy performed cognitive tasks better than normal middle and elderly people with low self-efficacy. The results of the relationship between the interaction of self-efficacy with higher brain functions and sex differences showed that the performances of cognitive tasks in men with low self-efficacy were worse than those of men with higher self-efficacy, and that this interaction was not significant in women. Based on these findings, the relationship between self-efficacy and cognitive reserve was discussed.
