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Reading in healthy ageing: the influence of information structuring in sentences.

Authors :
Price JM
Sanford AJ
Source :
Psychology and aging [Psychol Aging] 2012 Jun; Vol. 27 (2), pp. 529-40. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Nov 14.
Publication Year :
2012

Abstract

In three experiments, we investigated the cognitive effects of linguistic prominence to establish whether focus plays a similar or different role in modulating language processing in healthy ageing. Information structuring through the use of cleft sentences is known to increase the processing efficiency of anaphoric references to elements contained with a marked focus structure. It also protects these elements from becoming suppressed in the wake of subsequent information, suggesting selective mechanisms of enhancement and suppression. In Experiment 1 (using self-paced reading), we found that focus enhanced (faster) integration for anaphors referring to words contained within the scope of focus; but suppressed (slower) integration for anaphors to words contained outside of the scope of focus; and in some cases, the effects were larger in older adults. In Experiment 2 (using change detection), we showed that older adults relied more on the linguistic structure to enhance change detection when the changed word was in focus. In Experiment 3 (using delayed probe recognition and eye-tracking), we found that older adults recognized probes more accurately when they were made to elements within the scope of focus than when they were outside the scope of focus. These results indicate that older adults' ability to selectively attend or suppress concepts in a marked focus structure is preserved.<br /> (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1939-1498
Volume :
27
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Psychology and aging
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
22082014
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026028