Chapter 7: Higher Order Cognitive Functions

Question 1

Peseverate

Answer 1

producing the same words in a sequence

Question 2

Elderspeak

Answer 2

simplified speech pattern directed at older adults similar to the way people talk to babies

Question 3

Communication predicament model of aging

Answer 3

older adults are thought to be mentally incapacitated, which leads younger people to elderspeak and reduce older adults’ ability to use language

Question 4

Infantilization

Answer 4

older adults lose the incentive to attempt to regain self-sufficiency in daily life activities

Question 5

Everyday problem-solving

Answer 5

the ability to solve problems that typically occur in people’s daily lives in more than one way

Question 6

Intelligence

Answer 6

an individual’s mental ability

Question 7

Classic aging pattern of intelligence

Answer 7

inverted u-shape; intelligence peaks in early adulthood then steadily declines

Question 8

Two main categories of mental abilities

Answer 8

verbal and non-verbal intelligence

Question 9

Three health-related factors affecting aging of intelligence

Answer 9

(1) greater decline among smokers (2) among men, obesity predicts lower intelligence scores (3) people with more active engagement show less decline

Question 10

Plasticity model

Answer 10

intelligence is “plastic” or modifiable rather than just an attribute that inevitably declines with age

Question 11

Reserve capacity

Answer 11

abilities that exist to be used but are currently untapped

Question 12

Testing the limits

Answer 12

the process of tapping into one’s reserve capacity and continuing to train them until they show no further improvements

Question 13

Mechanics of intelligence

Answer 13

cognitive operations like speed, working memory, and fluid intelligence

Question 14

Baltes wisdom model

Answer 14

wise people are experts in the pragmatics of intelligence

Question 15

Pragmatics of intelligence

Answer 15

being able to apply one’s abilities to solving real-life problems

Question 16

Berlin Wisdom Paradigm

Answer 16

wisdom is a form of expert knowledge in the pragmatics of life

Question 17

Five characteristics of wise people according to Berlin Wisdom Paradigm

Answer 17

lifespan contextualism, value relativism, factual knowledge, procedural knowledge, management of uncertainty

Question 18

Lifespan contextualism

Answer 18

wise people become aware of the role of culture in shaping their lives and personalities

Question 19

Value relativism

Answer 19

wise people become less likely to judge others and have a greater appreciation for individual differences

Question 20

Theory on multiple intelligences

Answer 20

intelligence includes several traditional abilities: logical-mathematical, verbal, visual-spatial, naturalistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, bodily-kinesthetic

Question 21

Tests of executive function in SLS

Answer 21

trail making, inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, verbal/word fluency, number ability

Question 22

Financial capacity

Answer 22

capacity to manage money and financial assets in ways that meet a person’s needs and are consistent with their values and self-interest

Question 23

Ways to combat cognitive decline

Answer 23

physical activity like exercise and dancing, playing/learning music, social engagement, video games and brain-training games (only in the trained tasks and possible closely related tasks), exergames (but not working memory)