Aging Effect on Visual and Spatial Components of Working Memory

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aging on the storage of visual and spatial working memory according to Logie's model of working memory (1995). In a first experiment young, elderly, and very old subjects carried out two tasks usually used to measure visual span (Visual Patterns Test) and spatial span (Corsi Block Tapping test). In the second experiment, we modified the encoding time of the Visual Patterns Test so that it was the same as in the Corsi Block Tapping test. Results indicate that the visual span decreases more with advanced age than the spatial span, even when the encoding time between the Visual Patterns Test and the Corsi Block Tapping test is controlled. These results support the fractionation of the visuo-spatial working memory and show that the more pronounced age-related effect on the visual span is robust and independent of the encoding time.