Lifespan Approach
Why study older adults?
some cognitive abilities decline with age while others stay the same.
Study the cognitive processes of infants and children in
order to:
Understand the origin of cognitive skills
Conjugate Reinforcement Technique
method for measuring cognition in infants using a mobile attached to their foot
What's practical aspect of studying older adults?
elderly population is substantial (13% of US)
What's other important part of the study the cognitive processes of infants and children?
Prepare for careers requiring background knowledge about infancy and childhood
Examples of Conjugate Reinforcement Technique
Kicking makes mobile move
– Measure whether baby remembers that kicking moves
the mobile
– If the baby remembers the learning, when the string is
attached, he or she will kick!
What's a lifespan approach to development most important aspect?
We adapt and change throughout our entire lives
The 6-month-old infants can create?
an association between two objects
Research: Rovee and Collier
– Infants can remember actions, even after a delay
– Context matters (encoding specificity)
What personal example of older people?
Personal – we all know elderly people and will be elderly ourselves!
Can create an association
between two objects even if
they have never previously seen the objects together at the same time
What do older infants in Research: Rovee and Collier do?
press lever to run train
Lifespan approach to development
emphasizes that developmental changes continue beyond young adulthood.
Can infants recognize their mothers?
infants as young as 3 days can recognize their mothers
Factors influencing infant memory
• Context effects
• Spacing effect (spaced vs. massed
learning)