Abstract
Age-related declines in cognitive abilities can sometimes be remedied for working memory intensive tasks by providing what Craik (1986) termed “environmental support,” for instance, using external memory cues to alleviate normal memory retrieval demands. We investigated a way-finding task that requires serial recall, a particularly challenging memory task for older adults. We compared videoconference versus voice-only guided presentation of routes to younger and older adults. Participants viewed or did not view maps containing the to-be-learned routes. Additionally, participants were allowed to take notes to simulate real-world situations more closely for half of the trials. Analyses indicate an interaction of age, notes, and map presentation at recall, suggesting environmental support from videoconferencing reduces the advantage of note taking for older adults. Videoconferencing can be a particularly effective presentation medium for older adults with respect to memory-intensive everyday tasks.
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