成人数字、词语和视空间工作记忆广度的发展特征及影响因素

目的:考察成人(18~49岁)数字、词语和视空间工作记忆广度发展变化的趋势及其影响因素。方法:采用多维记忆评估量表中的3个工作记忆广度分测验对280名正常成人进行测查,并收集一般资料。结果:成人的数字、词语和视空间广度成绩随年龄的增长均呈下降趋势(F=2.96~6.87,P<0.01);出现随龄衰减现象的先后顺序依次为视空间广度、词语广度和数字广度;在记忆广度总成绩和大多数分测验成绩上男女无显著差异,仅在30-34岁年龄组,男性视空间广度位置的成绩好于女性(11.02±3.17/8.67±3.18,t=2.15,P<0.05)。逐步回归分析结果显示,教育是成人数字、词语和视空间广度的保护因素(Beta值=0.546,0.445,0.423;P<0.01)。结论:成人阶段数字、词语和视空间工作记忆广度的发展变化基本上趋于一致,并且受教育程度能对不同的工作记忆广度起促进作用。

The Development of Digit, Verbal and Spatial Working Memory Span in Adults

Objective: To examine the development of digit, verbal and spatial working memory span in adults, and explore the factors which can affect them.Methods:The subjects were 280 healthy adults (male 134, female 146) aged from 18 to 49 years old.Each subject was administrated three subtests of the Multiple Memory Assessment Scale (MMAS), including digit, verbal and spatial working memory tasks, and demographical data were collected.Results:The adult demonstrated a significant longitudinal decline in performance of tests of working memory span (F=2.96~6.87,P<0.01).The rate of spatial working memory span declining with age is faster than those of digit and verbal working memory span.The performance of three subtests with age did not display significant difference between male and female.Education can obviously affect the development of working memory in adults(Beta=0.546,0.445,0.423,P<0.01).Conclusion: The development of different work memory functions in adults is parallel.Education can prompt the development of working memory functions in adults.