Aging and intrusion errors in an active visuo-spatial working memory task

Background and aims: This study examined whether remembering location information relies on efficient inhibitory functions. Methods: In two experiments, younger and older adults performed an active visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) span task. Participants were presented with a series of locations and asked to remember only final target locations, which were manipulated according to source (e.g., indicated by the experimenter or participant). Results: Data showed that, as the complexity of the VSWM task increased, older adults made more intrusion errors than younger adults, and that, older adults especially seemed to have difficulty in recalling correct locations when non-final locations were directly manipulated. Conclusions: This study highlights how older adults' performance in VSWM is influenced by inhibitory working memory functions, which become particularly crucial as attentional demands grow. (Aging Clin Exp Res 2009; 21: 282-291) (C)2009, Editrice Kurtis