Preserved context sensitivity in language production: Lexical differentiation in older adults.

ABSTRACT: Aging is often associated with cognitive decline, particularly in memory, which can impact language production. However, older adults (OA) do not exhibit a decline in crystallized intelligence, which reflects accumulated knowledge and expertise. The present study focuses on the referential phenomenon of lexical differentiation: When speakers refer to an object after earlier referring to a different exemplar from the same category, younger speakers sometimes use modified expressions (e.g., "the open umbrella") even though the earlier referent is no longer visible. We examine two hypotheses regarding lexical differentiation in older adults: the memory-based view that predicts less lexical differentiation in older adults due to memory decline, and the communication-based view that predicts eq

SUBMITTER: Yoon SO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12494165 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature