Retrieval time from different memory stores.

Two experiments were carried out to measure age-related differences in speed of error-free recall by normal adults. The major results were that: (a) the time taken to read a word aloud (retrieval from lexical memory) does not increase appreciably until subjects reach their 60s; (b) the time taken to recall a verbal item just attended to (retrieval from primary memory) increases steadily throughout the adult years, and most markedly between the sixth and seventh decades; and, (c) the time taken to recall recent verbal information outside the span of attention (retrieval from secondary memory) also increases as a function of chronological age, at a relatively rapid rate and most markedly between the fifth and sixth decades. The effects are independent of the number of stimulus-response alternatives.

Speed of retrieval from long-term memory in relation to age, familiarity, and datedness of information.

The time required to name four groups of pictures was measured in 83 community dwelling males (18-70 years of age). One group consisted of objects used 50 to 70 years ago (unique dated exemplars), and another consisted of objects unique to contemporary times (unique contemporary exemplars). For comparison, other pictures of contemporary and dated objects commonly used in both periods were employed.

Toward applying cognitive skill training to memory problems.

Four elements of a successful program of cognitive skill training for the elderly include: (a) the use of mnemonic aids for the memorization of new information; (b) the development of motivational techniques to enhance attention to materials and maintenance of cognitive skills acquired through training; (c) the design of techniques which utilize individual differences in abilities, personality, and cognitive style to enhance individual programs of cognitive skill training; and (d) the use of appropriate medical and/or psychiatric care when necessary.

Remembering the person: relations of individual difference variables to memory.

Individual differences in personality and temperament variables were examined in relation to measures of simple mental performance in an attempt to determine the effects of personality on cognitive functioning in the elderly. Shorter latencies in binary decision and choice reaction times, and in recognition memory and object naming tasks were found to be associated with greater trait anxiety and experiential openness. The need to include clinical assessments of memory impairment and measures of more global cognitive abilities and styles in future research on personality and mental performance was discussed, and ways in which information on personality variables might be incorporated into programs of intervention for memory impairment in the elderly were suggested.

From clinical and research findings on memory to intervention programs.

Memory remediation for the elderly is in its infancy. This paper reviews the etiology of memory problems in the elderly and the current difficulties in evaluating memory complaints and memory functions. Recommendations for comprehensive intervention programs are included.

Age and familiarity in memory scanning.

Sixty-five healthy males (31 to 75 years old) memorized lists of six letters (familiar or unfamiliar organization). Letters were then presented singly, and subjects responded yes or no according to whether a given letter was in the memorized set. Subjects of all ages took longer to respond in the case of the unfamiliar list.

Dual mechanism of the stimulant action of N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-tryptamine (bufotenine) on cardiac sympathetic nerves.

The indirect sympathomimetic effects of N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (bufotenine) have been analysed on the rabbit heart perfused in vitro by the Langendorff technique. Comparisons have been made with the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), which activates tryptamine receptors, and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), which stimulates nicotine receptors. Bufotenine, 5-HT and DMPP stimulated the rate and force of cardiac contraction but whereas all were powerful stimulants of cardiac rate, bufotenine and DMPP were much stronger stimulants of atrial and particularly ventricular tension than 5-HT.

Blockade of neuronal tryptamine receptors by metoclopramide.

Metoclopramide (0.13, 0.51, 2.

Spasmogen release from an extracranial vascular bed evoked by neurohumoral stimuli and periods of vascular stasis.

The hypothesis that pro-inflammatory spasmogens may be generated locally in the vessels of the head by neurohumoral stimuli has been tested using an isolated extracranial vascular bed from the rabbit. No spasmogen release was detected after adenosine triphosphate, histamine, acetylcholine or noradrenaline and was seen rarely after tyramine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Both sympathetic nerve stimulation and periods of vascular stasis released spasmogen, probably an E-type prostaglandin.

A controlled clinical trial of oral droperidol and droperidol plus diazepam for premedication in children.

In 87 children aged 2-9 yr, oral droperidol and oral droperidol plus diazepam were compared as premedicants in a controlled double-blind clinical trial. Atropine was given orally to all the patients. Droperidol was well absorbed and produced good sedation, associated with a low incidence of vomiting after operation.

Suxamethonium pains and electromyograph recordings in children.

Surface electromyography was used to investigate muscle activity in children following the administration of suxamethonium. The duration, amplitude and frequency of muscle action potentials recorded in children were similar to those in adults. Twenty-three children had muscle action potential frequencies in excess of 50 Hz, but only two suffered pain after operation.

Age-related differences in naming latency.

Older people seem to have difficulty learning new materials, perhaps because it takes them longer to retrieve relevant encoding information from memory. To assess the effects of age on speed of retrieval, 60 healthy males from 25 to 74 were shown pictures of common objects they were to name aloud as quickly as possible. The older subjects took longer to name the pictured objects.

Relations of age and personality dimensions to cognitive ability factors.

The relation between three cognitive ability factors - Information Processing Ability (IPA), Manual Dexterity (MD), and Pattern Analysis Capability (PAC) - and three personality dimensions - Anxiety, Extraversion, and Openness to Experience - were examined in three age groups. Subjects were 969 male volunteers ranging in age from 25 to 82. Subjects high in anixety scored lower on all three cognitive factors; subjects open to experience scored higher on IPA and PAC; and introverted subjects scored higher on PAC.

Effects of age and frequency of stimulus repetitions on two-choice reaction time.

Binary choice-reaction times for 123 males, 25-79 years of age, were obtained in a sequence of discrete trials in which the proportion of occasions that the same stimulus was presented twice in succession varied from .25, .50, and .

Mechanism of the indirect sympathomimetic effect of 5-hydroxytrypt-amine on the isolated heart of the rabbit.

1 Rabbit isolated hearts, perfused by the Langendorff technique, were used to investigate the indirect sympathomimetic effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Comparisons were made with noradrenaline and with two indirectly acting sympathomimetic agents with entirely different mechanisms of action, tyramine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP). 2 The cardiac stimulant effects of 5-HT, tyramine and DMPP were inhibited by propranolol and practolol and the pA2 values obtained were similar to those obtained with noradrenaline as the agonist.