AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN MEMORY FOR VISUAL HIERARCHICAL STIMULI

A test of memory for visual hierarchical stimuli was given to normal volunteers from three age groups (21 to 78 years old). Significant age-related declines were found in recall of global- and local-level stimuli on three immediate recall trials and on a 20-min delayed recall trial. On delayed recognition testing, older subjects chose significantly more false-positive items that were correct at the global level only. When younger subjects were equated for initial recall of global-level stimuli, the older subjects were deficient in immediate recall of local-level stimuli. These results suggest that memory for hierarchical stimuli declines with age and that aging may disproportionately affect memory for local-level stimuli.