Mind-wandering (MW) is a universal cognitive process that is estimated to comprise [approximately] 30% of our everyday thoughts. Despite its prevalence, the functional utility of MW remains a scientific blind spot. The present study sought to investigate whether MW serves a functional role in cognition. Specifically, we investigated whether MW…

Intraindividual variability (IIV) in cognitive speed, or moment-to-moment changes in ability, is a developmental phenomenon indicative of neurological integrity that increases gradually across adulthood. Past research has shown that IIV negatively covaries with cognitive performance, in which higher IIV at one occasion is associated with poorer…

The present study investigated the general cognitive determinants of alphabetic letter knowledge. It involved 60 French kindergarten children (mean age: five years six months). Two test batteries were used: the CMS to evaluate general cognitive abilities (memory, attention, and learning), and the LKT to assess letter knowledge and its various…

Recent studies suggest that working memory training may benefit older adults; however, findings regarding training and transfer effects are mixed. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of a process-based training intervention in a diverse sample of older adults and explored possible moderators of training and transfer effects. For…

The rate at which people process information appears to influence many aspects of cognition across the lifespan. However, many commonly accepted measures of "processing speed" may require goal maintenance, manipulation of information in working memory, and decision-making, blurring the distinction between processing speed and executive…

Norms are presented for persons ages 56 to 93 years for each story from the Logical Memory subtests of the revised edition of the Wechsler Memory Scale following the methods used for other Mayo's Older American Normative Studies. Means and standard deviations are presented for 3-year interval age groups from age 61 to 88. (SLD)

Calculated mean scores for older persons utilizing data from previous studies that measured Wechsler Memory Scale performance in healthy samples and compared with those of younger adults and a sample of neurologically impaired age (N=384). Statistical analysis indicated significant differences in the performance of different age groups. (JAC)

Attempts to validate the memory portion of the Strub-Black Mental Status Exam by comparing it to the Wechsler Memory Scale. Results indicate significant differences in almost all scores between the brain-damaged and normal groups. The Mental Status Examination appears valid for the differentiation of clinical samples and for the documentation of…

Discusses Russell's (1975) system for administering and scoring the Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale. Certain innovations such as obtaining a delayed recall appear to be useful, but comparisons with other studies indicate difficulty with the impairment ratings that were devised. (JAC)

Examined which memory dimensions deteriorate with increasing age and examines the construct validity of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) (N=1,264 males and 1,141 females at six age intervals). Visual-spatial memory tasks, remembering stories, and learning pairs of associated words proved more difficult with advanced age. (JAC)

A number of studies have revealed short-term memory deficits in individuals with PTSD. The current study sought to extend these findings to a college PTSD population. Additionally, a cueing manipulation was used to examine the effects of trauma-memory cueing on memory in PTSD and control groups. The study utilized a 2 x 2 (PTSD, No PTSD;…