PICTORIAL REHEARSAL EFFECTS IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS

In three studies, we examined pictorial rehearsal effects in younger a nd older adults. Concrete and abstract line drawings that varied in th e amount of pictorial detail were presented for study under different presentation conditions. In the pictorial rehearsal condition, each pi cture was followed by a blank rehearsal interval where the picture was no longer presented. In all three experiments, the poststimulus inter val enhanced picture recognition for both age groups, relative to a co ntrol condition where no rehearsal interval occurred. These findings s uggest that older adults, like younger adults, form and maintain visua l images across a blank rehearsal interval. Implications of these find ings for current views on imaginal processes in older adults are discu ssed.