Document Detail


The association between computer use and cognition across adulthood: use it so you won't lose it?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20677884     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Understanding the association between computer use and adult cognition has been limited until now by self-selected samples with restricted ranges of age and education. Here we studied effects of computer use in a large national sample (N = 2,671) of adults aged 32-84, assessing cognition with the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (Tun & Lachman, 2005) and executive function with the Stop and Go Switch Task (Tun & Lachman, 2008). Frequency of computer activity was associated with cognitive performance after controlling for age, sex, education, and health status: That is, individuals who used the computer frequently scored significantly higher than those who seldom used the computer. Greater computer use was also associated with better executive function on a task-switching test, even after controlling for basic cognitive ability as well as demographic variables. These findings suggest that frequent computer activity is associated with good cognitive function, particularly executive control, across adulthood into old age, especially for those with lower intellectual ability.
Authors:
Patricia A Tun; Margie E Lachman
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychology and aging     Volume:  25     ISSN:  1939-1498     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychol Aging     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-09-22     Completed Date:  2011-05-09     Revised Date:  2012-10-09    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8904079     Medline TA:  Psychol Aging     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  560-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
(c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. tun@brandeis.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Age Distribution
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging / physiology*,  psychology*
Cognition / physiology*
Computers / utilization*
Executive Function*
Female
Health Status
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Questionnaires
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Task Performance and Analysis
Telephone
United States
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
P01 AG020166-02/AG/NIA NIH HHS; P01 AG20166/AG/NIA NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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