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Executive Control on Memory Test Performance across Life: Test of Memory Strategies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2019

María Abellán-Martínez Open the ORCID record for María Abellán-Martínez [Opens in a new window] ,
Miguel Ángel Castellanos López ,
María Luisa Delgado-Losada ,
Raquel Yubero ,
Nuria Paúl  and
Fernando Maestú Unturbe
María Abellán-Martínez*
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Miguel Ángel Castellanos López
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
María Luisa Delgado-Losada
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Raquel Yubero
Affiliation:
Hospital Quirón (Spain)
Nuria Paúl
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Fernando Maestú Unturbe
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María Abellán Martínez. Universidad Complutense. Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Procesos Cognitivos y Logopedia. Campus de Somosaguas, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: mariaabe@ucm.es
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Abstract

The ability to generate memory strategies is a key factor in performance of episodic memory tests. There is evidence about the inefficient use of memory strategies in old adults. However, a question remains unresolved: Worse performance on memory test in the older people is due to an inability to mobilize cognitive strategies or to an episodic memory deficit? In this study we tried to answer it by using the Test of Memory Strategies (TMS), which parametrically reduces the need of executive functions on memory tests. The test consists of five experimental conditions (TMS1–5) where a progressive external organization of the material reduces the need to mobilize memory strategies. TMS was applied to a sample of 180 participants (n = 180) divided into three age groups (25–45; 46–65; 66–85). The results showed an increased performance in all groups groups (F(2, 177) = 14.79, p < .001) across conditions (F(3.88,674.04) = 292.48, p < .001), without group differences in those conditions with a maximum reduction of the need of executive functions (F(7.61,674.04) = 1.95, p = .053). However, middle age and older adults showed more difficulties in establishing cognitive strategies, in the initial conditions. These results lead to the conclusion that the typical pattern of low performance on episodic memory tasks in the older population may be due to the deterioration of executive functions and not mainly to a primary decline of memory process.

Keywords

executive functionshealthy agingmemory strategies neuropsychology
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 22 , 2019 , E50
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2019 

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Footnotes

How to cite this article:

Abellán-Martínez, M., Castellanos López, M. A., Delgado-Losada, M. L., Yubero, R., Paúl, N., & Maestú Unturbe, F. (2019). Executive control on memory test performance across life: Test of Memory Strategies. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 22. e50. Doi:10.1017/sjp.2019.47

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