Semantic memory space becomes denser with age

IF 2 3区心理学 Q3 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Neuropsychologia Pub Date : 2025-01-23 DOI:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109083

Rebecca A. Cutler, Soroush Mirjalili, Priscilla Pham, Hita Devulapalli, Sabuhee Zafar, Audrey Duarte

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Semantic memory, a repository for concepts and factual information, plays a vital role in acquiring and retrieving knowledge. This study explores the impact of age-related knowledge accumulation on semantic cognition, investigating whether a denser representational space affects retrieval processes. Using a semantic feature verification task, we employ both behavioral (reaction time; RT) and neurophysiological (event-related potential; ERP) measures to explore these dynamics across young and older adults. Findings revealed an age-related RT difference in retrieval of semantically incongruent features, indicative of increased semantic search demands with age. ERP results show attenuated N400 responses in older adults for congruent features, possibly reflecting increased semantic relatedness. The late frontal effect (LFE) shows sustained modulation in older adults, indicative of enhanced post-retrieval monitoring. We propose that this extended search through semantic memory reflects an increase in the number of features to evaluate. These results support the idea that aging leads to a more densely packed semantic space, impacting the speed and dynamics of semantic retrieval.

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语义记忆空间随年龄增大而增大。

语义记忆是概念和事实信息的存储库，在获取和检索知识方面起着至关重要的作用。本研究探讨年龄相关知识积累对语义认知的影响，探讨更密集的表征空间是否会影响检索过程。使用语义特征验证任务，我们使用行为(反应时间；RT)和神经生理(事件相关电位；ERP)测量，探索这些动态在年轻人和老年人。研究结果显示，语义不一致特征的检索存在年龄相关的RT差异，表明语义搜索需求随着年龄的增长而增加。ERP结果显示，老年人对一致特征的N400反应减弱，可能反映了语义相关性的增加。晚期额叶效应（LFE）在老年人中显示出持续的调节，表明检索后监测增强。我们认为，这种通过语义记忆的扩展搜索反映了需要评估的特征数量的增加。这些结果支持了衰老导致语义空间更加密集的观点，影响了语义检索的速度和动态。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Neuropsychologia 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

3.80%

发文量

228

审稿时长

4 months

期刊介绍： Neuropsychologia is an international interdisciplinary journal devoted to experimental and theoretical contributions that advance understanding of human cognition and behavior from a neuroscience perspective. The journal will consider for publication studies that link brain function with cognitive processes, including attention and awareness, action and motor control, executive functions and cognitive control, memory, language, and emotion and social cognition.