Passive storage and active manipulation in visuo-spatial working memory: Further evidence from the study of age differences

Recent theoretical accounts of working memory proposed a distinction betwee n passive storage and active processing of visuo-spatial information. These hypotheses are based on empirical evidence showing that individual differe nces in visuo-spatial abilities are frequently modulated by this variable. However, results from age differences studies are not clear, and this resea rch was designed to specifically investigate the level of competence of eld erly people in tasks measuring visuo-spatial working memory and, in particu lar passive and active components of the system. Three groups of participan ts (mean ages were approximately 22, 66, and 76) were tested in eight cogni tive tasks tapping passive storage and active manipulation in various aspec ts of visuo-spatial and verbal processing. Results showed that elderly peop le are selectively impaired in active tasks, and these tasks were also more sensitive in detecting differences within the older group. These data high light the need for theoretical models of working memory that take into acco unt this distinction while defining the architecture of the system.