Age-related differences in episodic memory retrieval : ERP evidence for differential developmental changes in item and source recognition memory

Two cross-sectional studies aimed at investigating the development of different episodic retrieval processes and their neural correlates from childhood over adolescence until adulthood. A particular focus was put on those processes that are mediated by cognitive control functions and which support the retrieval of source information. The results show that processes related to the conscious remembering of episodic information in item recognition memory tasks are relatively mature in middle childhood. The findings suggest, however, that strategic retrieval processing and its neural correlates follows a longer developmental trajectory until adulthood.In zwei altersvergleichenden Untersuchen wurde die Entwicklung verschiedener Abrufprozesse des episodischen Gedächtnisses und ihrer neuronalen Korrelate während Kindheit und Jugend bis zum Erwachsenenalter untersucht. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt lag dabei auf solchen Prozessen, die kognitiven Kontrollfunktionen unterliegen und den Abruf von Quelleninformation unterstützen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Prozesse, die mit dem bewussten Erinnern episodischer Information in Itemrekognitionsaufgaben in Verbindung stehen, im mittleren Kindheitsalter ausgereift sind. Hingegen legen die Befunde nahe, dass die strategisch kontrollierte Abrufverarbeitung und ihre neuronalen Substrate einem längeren Entwicklungsgradienten unterliegt, der sich bis zum Erwachsenenalter erstreckt

Urban climate and heat stress: how likely is the implementation of adaptation measures in mid-latitude cities? The case of façade greening analyzed with Bayesian networks

Urban heat is a challenge for mid-latitude cities possibly aggravated by global climate change making it necessary to adapt the urban fabric. Façade greening has been identified as an important measure to adjust the building stock and new buildings to adverse climatic impacts. Yet, little is known on factors that influence implementation probabilities for adaptation measures. Therefore, we tried to figure out the driving forces and barriers for implementation of façade greening applying the methodology of Bayesian networks. The article presents the Bayesian network as an analytical system to examine the probability for the implementation of adaptation measures by including expert opinions. The results show that experts in Berlin estimate the likelihood of an implementation of façade greening under current conditions at 2 %. The article also examines further supportive factors that exist to raise this comparatively low value. A scenario including financial incentives from a backyard greening program raises the chances to 14 %. However, BN results confirm that it depends on the factor of “willingness” of involved actors and the right combination of supportive factors, as there are no regulations to fix the implementation of a façade greening legally

Aging, working memory capacity and the proactive control of recollection:An event-related potential study

The present study investigated the role of working memory capacity (WMC) in the control of recollection in young and older adults. We used electroencephalographic event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine the effects of age and of individual differences in WMC on the ability to prioritize recollection according to current goals. Targets in a recognition exclusion task were words encoded using two alternative decisions. The left parietal ERP old/new effect was used as an electrophysiological index of recollection, and the selectivity of recollection measured in terms of the difference in its magnitude according to whether recognized items were targets or non-targets. Young adults with higher WMC showed greater recollection selectivity than those with lower WMC, while older adults showed nonselective recollection which did not vary with WMC. The data suggest that aging impairs the ability to engage cognitive control effectively to prioritize what will be recollected

Altersunterschiede im Episodischen Gedächtnisabruf : EKP-Evidenz für differentielle Entwicklungsveränderungen des Item- und Quellenrekognitionsgedächtnisses

Two cross-sectional studies aimed at investigating the development of different episodic retrieval processes and their neural correlates from childhood over adolescence until adulthood. A particular focus was put on those processes that are mediated by cognitive control functions and which support the retrieval of source information. The results show that processes related to the conscious remembering of episodic information in item recognition memory tasks are relatively mature in middle childhood. The findings suggest, however, that strategic retrieval processing and its neural correlates follows a longer developmental trajectory until adulthood.In zwei altersvergleichenden Untersuchen wurde die Entwicklung verschiedener Abrufprozesse des episodischen Gedächtnisses und ihrer neuronalen Korrelate während Kindheit und Jugend bis zum Erwachsenenalter untersucht. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt lag dabei auf solchen Prozessen, die kognitiven Kontrollfunktionen unterliegen und den Abruf von Quelleninformation unterstützen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Prozesse, die mit dem bewussten Erinnern episodischer Information in Itemrekognitionsaufgaben in Verbindung stehen, im mittleren Kindheitsalter ausgereift sind. Hingegen legen die Befunde nahe, dass die strategisch kontrollierte Abrufverarbeitung und ihre neuronalen Substrate einem längeren Entwicklungsgradienten unterliegt, der sich bis zum Erwachsenenalter erstreckt