Intraindividual reaction time variability is malleable: feedback- and education-related reductions in variability with age
Date
2012
Authors
Garrett, D.
MacDonald, Stuart W.S.
Craik, Fergus I.M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Abstract
Intraindividual variability (IIV) in trial-to-trial reaction time (RT) is a robust and stable
within-person marker of aging. However, it remains unknown whether IIV can be
modulated experimentally. In a sample of healthy younger and older adults, we examined
the effects of motivation- and performance-based feedback, age, and education level on
IIV in a choice RT task (four blocks over 15 min). We found that IIV was reduced with
block-by-block feedback, particularly for highly educated older adults. Notably, the baseline
difference in IIV levels between this group and the young adults was reduced by 50%
by the final testing block, this advantaged older group had improved such that they were
statistically indistinguishable from young adults on two of three preceding testing blocks.
Our findings confirmed that response IIV is indeed modifiable, within mere minutes of
feedback and testing.
Description
Keywords
aging, reaction time, performance variability, feedback, cognitive reserve, intraindividual variability
Citation
Garrett, D., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Craik, F.I.M. (2012). Intraindividual reaction time variability is malleable: feedback- and education-related reductions in variability with age. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6(101). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00101