Age-related differences in resolving semantic and phonological competition during receptive language tasks.

ABSTRACT: Receptive language (e.g., reading) is largely preserved in the aging brain, and semantic processes in particular may continue to develop throughout the lifespan. We investigated the neural underpinnings of phonological and semantic retrieval in older and younger adults during receptive language tasks (rhyme and semantic similarity judgments). In particular, we were interested in the role of competition on language retrieval and varied the similarities between a cue, target, and distractor that were hypothesized to affect the mental process of competition. Behaviorally, all participants responded faster and more accurately during the rhyme task compared to the semantic task. Moreover, older adults demonstrated higher response accuracy than younger adults during the semantic task. Although t

SUBMITTER: Zhuang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5362309 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature