Relation between cognitive and behavioral aspects of dysexecutive functioning in normal aging.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between cognitive and behavioral symptoms of dysexecutive functioning, understood as two aspects of dysexecutive syndrome, in an elderly nonclinical sample. Most previous studies have concentrated on clinical population. However, nonclinical population of elderly adults is, in this context, a group of special interest due to a large body of evidence indicating that executive functions decrease pronouncedly in the course of normal aging. The data were collected from 40 participants aged 67-86 years. None presented symptoms of cognitive disorder or depression or reported psychiatric or neurological problems. The Dysexecutive Questionnaire was used as a measure of behavioral aspect of dysexecutive syndrome. Participants also performed experimental tasks referring to three cognitive aspects of executive functioning (i.e., updating, inhibition, and attentional shifting). Analysis resulted in weak and nonsignificant correlations between cognitive and behavioral aspects of dysexecutive syndrome. Results are discussed in the context of previous research and diagnostic criteria of dysexecutive syndrome.

Simple verbal analogical reasoning and its predictors in old age.

Analogical reasoning - the ability to find a relation between two objects is often recognized as a core of cognition. This article presents two studies focused on the effect of aging on analogical reasoning, and potential mechanisms that explain individual differences between the performances of elderly adults in analogy tasks. In Study 1, the authors examined age-related differences in reasoning based on simple verbal analogical relations, A:B:: C:D type. Elderly participants (N = 25, Mage = 73.12) obtained significantly lower results than younger adults (N = 25, Mage = 21.12). In Study 2, authors concentrated on individual differences between elderly people (N = 95, Mage = 71.39) in the same type of analogical reasoning. Regression analysis confirmed the role of processing speed and age, but not of inhibitory control, working memory and education, as predictors of analogical reasoning in old age. Results of both studies are discussed in relation to the conclusions drawn from current research in the field of analogical reasoning.

Waiting for a treat. Studying behaviors related to self-regulation in 18- and 24-month-olds.

The ability to delay gratification - conceived as an early expression of self-regulation - develops in the second half of the second year of life. We used inductive methodology to identify different behaviors and set of behaviors performed by children while waiting for a treat. We asked which sets are more effective when it comes to successfully delaying gratification and how all observed sets change during toddler age. 130 children were tested twice - at 18 and at 24 months - using a Snack Delay Task. We observed 20 different behaviors and distinguished 4 sets of behaviors. The most important and effective set for delaying gratification in 18 and in 24 month olds was the set called Attention and Movements. We concluded that growth in the ability to delay gratification resulted from increased ability to overcome temptation by using an active strategy mainly based on attention.