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. 2011 Mar;26(1):85-91.
doi: 10.1037/a0020360.

Impact of sensory acuity on auditory working memory span in young and older adults

Carryl L Baldwin  1 , Ivan K Ash
Affiliations

Impact of sensory acuity on auditory working memory span in young and older adults

Carryl L Baldwin et al. Psychol Aging. 2011 Mar.

Abstract

The impact of sensory acuity, processing speed, and working memory capacity on auditory working memory span (L-span) performance at 5 presentation levels was examined in 80 young adults (18-30 years of age) and 26 older adults (60-82 years of age). Lowering the presentation level of the L-span task had a greater detrimental effect on the older adults than on the younger ones. Furthermore, the relationship between sensory acuity and L-span performance varied as a function of age and presentation level. These results suggest that declining acuity plays an important explanatory role in age-related declines in cognitive abilities.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean listening span scores as a function of age group and presentation level (error bars represent standard error).
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