The occurrence of causal bridging and predictive inferences in young and older adults

Four experiments used an indirect measure of memory, perceptual identificat ion, to examine possible differences in the generation of causal bridging a nd predictive inferences by young and older adults. In Experiments 1 and 2, young and older adults read paragraphs in which material necessary for und erstanding causal connections was either explicitly stated or merely implie d. Identification of target words related to the causal connection, whether stated or implied, was better than identification of new, unrelated words, Ibis benefit was similar in young and older adults. In Experiments 3 and 4 , the generation of predictive inferences that are not necessary for discou rse comprehension was examined. Overall, the results of these 2 experiments suggested no systematic age differences in the generation of these optiona l, elaborative inferences. Recognition memory for inferences was also teste d in each experiment. The evidence suggests that causal bridging inferences , but not predictive inferences, may be incorporated into the textbase by b oth young and older adults. Results are discussed in terms of current theor izing about comprehension deficits in old age.