Differential effect of aging on verbal and visuo-spatial working memory

Aging Dis. 2013 Apr 12;4(4):170-7. eCollection 2013 Aug.

Abstract

Working memory (WM) declines with age. However it seems unclear, whether age related decline is more pronounced on verbal WM or on visuo-spatial WM. The present study compares the effect of aging on verbal and visuo-spatial modality of WM on native Hindi healthy speakers, in the age range of 40-to-above 80 years. It was found that normal aging affect both the verbal and visual working memory in similar way. Both modality declines with a similar rate up to 50-60 years and after 60 years relative saturation in span take place. Although verbal WM span is higher than visuo-spatial WM span, but no significant difference between verbal and visuo-spatial WM span were observed.

Keywords: Aging; verbal working memory; visuo-spatial working memory.