Comparative Study of Accidental and Semantic Memory from Youth to old Age

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of psychology, Faculty of literature and humanities, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Two types of obvious long-term memory, that is, accidental and semantic memory are distinguishable. Many factors including age could be associated with these two types of memory. Present investigation aims to study  accidental and semantic memory in different adult age groups from youth to elderly. The study sample consisted of all age groups of 40- 45, 30- 35, 20- 25, 50, 55 and 60- 65 in Kerman city where 60 subjects in both groups were evaluated  using random sampling method. Individuals responded the future-oriented (futuristic) memory tests, face and name detection tests and sentence note or recalling in order to study the accidental memory and alphabet recalling  or note tests so as to study the semantic memory. Results from variance analysis revealed a significant difference between the accidental memory at age ranges 50- 55 and 60- 65 and age groups of 30- 35, 20- 25 and 40- 45 while there was not a significant difference between ages 50- 55 and 60- 65. Comparing age groups in semantic memory demonstrated that  controlling education revealed no significant difference among different age groups. According to the findings of this study, it could be said that the performance of accidental memory is weakened after the age of 45- 50 but the increase in age is not associated with the performance of semantic memory. Decline in the performance of accidental  memory could be associated with reduction in brain efficiency, age related differences  in the capacity of the active memory, processing speed and preventive performance.
 

Keywords

References

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Aging Psychology
Volume 3, Issue 3 - Serial Number 10
February 2018
Pages 159-166

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 February 2018
  • Revise Date: 17 March 2018
  • Accept Date: 07 April 2018

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