Theory Of Cognitive Aging

Over A Half-century Of Research Has Documented The Fact That People Of Different Ages Perform At Different Levels On A Variety Of Tests Of Cognitive Functioning, And Yet There Are Still No Comprehensive Theories To Account For These Phenomena. A Theory Of Cognitive Aging Is Intended To Begin Intellectual Discussion In This Area By Identifying Major Issues Of Controversy, And Proposing A Particular Theoretical Interpretation Based On The Notion That The Rate Of Processing Information Slows Down With Increased Age. Although Still Quite Preliminary, The Theoretical Perspective Is Demonstrated To Provide A Plausible Account For Age-related Differences In Functioning On Measures Of Memory, Spatial Ability And Reasoning. The Book Has Four Aims: - To Advocate A More Explicitly Theoretical Approach To Research In The Area Of Cognitive Aging. - To Outline Three Important Dimensions Along Which It Is Argued That Any Theory Of Cognitive Aging Phenomena Must Take A Position. - To Evaluate Empirical Evidence Relevant To Specific Positions Along Those Dimensions. - To Summarize The Major Concepts Of The Current Theory, And To Describe Its Application To Selected Findings In The Research Literature.