Biomedical subjects

Anna-Lisa Cohen

Publications and source records attributed to Anna-Lisa Cohen.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Eye movements and prospective memory: what the eyes can tell us about prospective memory.

In this study we used eye tracking methodology in combination with multi-element displays to examine the processes underlying event-based prospective memory in a visual search paradigm. In the task individuals searched for a different target stimulus (i.e., a letter) on each trial that could be present or absent, and made prospective responses to the letters D or M. The response accuracy data revealed that target hits were more frequent than prospective hits, and that there was no difference in response time for target and prospective responses. The eye tracking data revealed that both first and total fixation durations increased from distractors (stimuli that were neither targets nor prospective cues) to targets to prospective cues when a target or prospective response was made. These measures also revealed that the presence of a target in the display served to disrupt prospective memory. In addition, prospective memory misses resulted from a combination of failures to fixate the prospective cues and failures to engage in strategic processing of the prospective cues. These data demonstrate the utility of eye tracking methods in examining the processes underlying event-based prospective memory.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Self-regulatory strategy and executive control: implementation intentions modulate task switching and Simon task performance.

Two tasks where failures of cognitive control are especially prevalent are task-switching and spatial Simon task paradigms. Both tasks require considerable strategic control for the participant to avoid the costs associated with switching tasks (task-switching paradigm) and to minimize the influence of spatial location (Simon task). In the current study, we assessed whether the use of a self-regulatory strategy known as "implementation intentions" would have any beneficial effects on performance in each of these task domains. Forming an implementation intention (i.e., an if-then plan) is a self-regulatory strategy in which a mental link is created between a pre-specified future cue and a desired goal-directed response, resulting in facilitated goal attainment (Gollwitzer in European Review of Social Psychology, 4, 141-185, 1993, American Psychologist, 54, 493-503, 1999). In Experiment 1, forming implementation intentions in the context of a task-switching paradigm led to a reduction in switch costs. In Experiment 2, forming implementation intentions reduced the effects of spatial location in a Simon task for the stimulus specified in the implementation intention. Results supported the prediction that the need for high levels of cognitive control can be alleviated to some degree by making if-then plans that specify how one responds to that critical stimuli.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Cognitive performance differentiates selected aspects of psychosocial maturity in adolescence.

This study examined relations between adolescents' cognitive performance and psychosocial maturity. Forty-eight adolescents in Grades 9 and 12 were measured on intelligence (composite, crystallized, fluid), executive functioning (backward digit span, Color Trails 2 (CT2), Stroop, everyday problem solving), and psychosocial maturity (subjective age, problem behavior, psychological maturity). Significant relations between aspects of cognitive performance and psychosocial maturity emerged. Problem behavior was related to lower crystallized intelligence, whereas psychological maturity was related to higher crystallized intelligence and better performance on the CT2. Psychosocially mature adolescents had significantly higher composite IQ scores than did pseudomature adolescents. Mature adolescents also showed advantages in crystallized and fluid intelligence, and in performance on the CT2, compared to their less mature counterparts (the combined group of immature and pseudomature adolescents). The results suggest that cognitive abilities are related to psychosocial maturity.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

The effect of perceptual distinctiveness on the prospective and retrospective components of prospective memory in young and old adults.

In two experiments, the effect of perceptual distinctiveness of cues on prospective memory performance was examined. Young and older adults completed a visual search task with embedded prospective memory instructions. On each trial, participants were asked to indicate the position of a target letter in a letter string, unless either of two letters previously identified as prospective memory cues was presented. Each prospective cue was associated with a specific response. Perceptual distinctiveness was manipulated by spatially displacing a single letter. The prospective component (successful detection of the cue) and the retrospective memory component (recalling the correct response when a cue is detected) were measured separately. Perceptual displacement of cues modulated performance of the prospective component but not the retrospective component. Young adults successfully detected a larger proportion of cues (prospective component) than older adults. However, there were minimal effects of age and no effect of cue displacement on participants' ability to recall the intention once they detected a cue (retrospective component performance). Results are discussed within the context of current theoretical models of prospective memory.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Self-reported memory compensation: similar patterns in Alzheimer's disease and very old adult samples.

Evidence pertaining to self-reported use of memory compensation techniques was collected using the Memory Compensation Questionnaire (MCQ). Five forms of everyday memory compensation were evaluated: (a) external memory aids, (b) internal mnemonic strategies, (c) investing and managing processing time, (d) applying more effort, and (e) reliance on human memory aids. The sample was derived from the Kungsholmen Project in Stockholm, Sweden, and consisted of (n = 85) healthy older adults (M age = 81.80 years; M MMSE = 28.34) and (n = 21) diagnosed Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients (Mage = 81.80 years; M MMSE = 23.55). Participants were tested on two occasions, 6 months apart. Results showed that the MCQ was a largely reliable instrument in these two groups. Moreover, we observed substantial sample similarity in frequency of using the five forms of everyday memory compensation techniques. The healthy sample reported using the external techniques more than the AD sample. Over the 6-month interval, however, AD patients differentially increased their use of others to assist them in everyday memory performance. Results are interpreted in terms of insight into changes in memory skills and inthe implementation of effective memory support systems.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biological age and 12-year cognitive change in older adults: findings from the Victoria Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Although recent cross-sectional findings indicate that markers of biological age (BA) mediate chronological age (CA) differences in cognitive performance, little is known about their influence on actual cognitive changes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation is to examine CA and BA as predictors of 12-year cognitive change in a longitudinal sample of older adults. METHODS: Data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study (VLS) were examined for 125 adults between 67 and 95 years of age. Biomarkers, including visual and auditory acuity, grip strength, peak expiratory flow, blood pressure, and body mass index, were submitted to a factor analysis and a composite BA variable was computed based on factor loadings. Intraindividual change across 5 waves of measurement (3-year intervals) was examined as a function of CA and BA for 5 cognitive domains: verbal processing speed, working memory, reasoning, episodic memory, and semantic memory. RESULTS: The latent structure of biomarkers was consistent with previous investigations of functional age and a common factor view of biological aging. Results of hierarchical linear modeling showed that BA predicted actual cognitive change (decline) independent of CA. CONCLUSIONS: As a predictor of cognitive performance in late life, CA is a proxy for biological and environmental influences. We have shown that biological influences are independent predictors of actual cognitive change in older adults. This supports the view that cognitive decline is not due to aging per se, but rather is likely due to causal factors that operate along the age continuum.

Aged↗