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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access published online on March 2, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp009
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Working Memory and Postural Control: Adult Age Differences in Potential for Improvement, Task Priority, and Dual Tasking

Michail Doumas1, Michael A. Rapp2 and Ralf Th. Krampe1

1 Department of Psychology, K.U. Leuven, Belgium
2 Department of Psychiatry, Charité University Hospital Medicine, Berlin, Germany

Address correspondence to Michail Doumas, PhD, Department of Psychology, K.U. Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, bus 3715, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Email: mihalis.doumas{at}psy.kuleuven.be


  Abstract

We investigate dynamic posture control and working memory (NBack) retest practice in young and older adults, focusing on older adults’ potential for improvement in the component tasks but more importantly in dual-task performance. Participants performed the 2 tasks in 11 sessions under single- and dual-task conditions. Posture improvement was observed with retest practice for both groups. Increase in cognitive load after initial practice led to greater dual-task costs in both tasks in older adults and higher costs in memory in young adults. With continued practice, costs were reduced by both groups; however, the 2 groups focused improvement on different tasks: Older adults focused on posture but young adults on cognition. These results emphasize older adults’ potential for improvement in dual-task performance and their flexibility to utilize the practice gains in posture to optimize cognitive performance.

Key Words: Aging • Balance • Dual task • Posture • Resource allocation • Risk of falling • Working memory

Received July 17, 2008; Accepted December 2, 2008

Decision Editor: Rosemary Blieszner, PhD


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