Semantic encoding in older adults as evidenced by release from proactive inhibition.

Wickens' Release from Proactive Inhibition paradigm was used to investigate semantic encoding in healthy older persons, nursing home residents, and college students. Significant PI Release effects, which did not interact with age, were obtained for taxonomic category and semantic differential dimensions. However, older persons, especially nursing home residents, displayed lower percentages of recall than college students, indicating that their semantic processing was less efficient. It was suggested that older and younger adults may differ not so much as their levels (or depth) of encoding as in their degree of elaboration within particular levels.