Semantic Interference Effect in Picture-Word Naming Tasks between Youth and Elderly

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether elderly groups are able to do semantic processing during a picture-word interference task and whether their semantic processing is more affected by words in the same category or different categories. Methods: The participants in this study were 15 younger adults and 15 normal elderly. The tasks were composed of conditions where the target stimulation and distractive stimulation were in the same category or in different categories. The tasks were composed of a total of 30 questions. On the picture-word interference task, participants were supposed to name the picture. Results: The results of the study are summarized as follows. First, on the picture-word interference task, the accuracy of response of the elderly group was significantly lower than the younger group. Second, the reaction time of the elderly group was significantly slower, but both groups had a longer reaction time in the same category condition. Conclusion: The results indicated that the elderly group had more interference effects than the younger group. Although both groups resolved interference, the reaction time of the elderly group was slower. But in the same category condition, both groups had a longer reaction time than in different category conditions.