Perspectives on Psychological Science· 2014Q1
Selective Engagement of Cognitive Resources
- 283citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2014year
Short summary
Aging increases the 'cost' of cognitive engagement, leading older adults to become more selective in resource use, reducing intrinsic motivation for demanding tasks and increasing sensitivity to self-relevance.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Aging increases the costs (effort, fatigue) of cognitive engagement.
- Older adults become more selective in cognitive resource allocation due to these increased costs.
- Selectivity manifests as reduced intrinsic motivation for demanding tasks.
- Selectivity also involves greater sensitivity to a task's self-related implications.
- Reduced motivation may hinder participation in cognitively beneficial activities.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
In this article, I present a framework for understanding the impact of aging-related declines in cognitive resources on functioning. I make the assumption that aging is associated with an increase in the costs of cognitive engagement, as reflected in both the effort required to achieve a specific level of task performance and the associated depletion or fatigue effects. I further argue that these costs result in older adults being increasingly selective in the engagement of cognitive resources in response to these declines. This selectivity is reflected in (a) a reduction in the intrinsic motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities, which, in part, accounts for general reductions in engagement in such activities, and (b) greater sensitivity to the self-related implications of a given task. Both processes are adaptive if viewed in terms of resource conservation, but the former may also be maladaptive to the extent that it results in older adults restricting participation in cognitively demanding activities that could ultimately benefit cognitive health. I review supportive research and make the general case for the importance of considering motivational factors in understanding aging effects on cognitive functioning.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2014 · DOI ↗
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Field: Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Neuropsychology and Physiological PsychologyPsychology