Digit span changes from puberty to old age under different levels of education

Karakas S., Yalin A., Irak M., Erzengin O.

DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, vol.22, no.2, pp.423-453, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 22 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.1207/s15326942dn2202_1
  • Journal Name: DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.423-453
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the age-related changes in multimodality digit span under a research design in which level of education is controlled. Volunteer participants (n = 1183) were distributed over levels of age (13-98 years) and education (5-8, 9-11, and 12+ years). Digit span was measured through I I scores of the Visual Aural Digit Span Test-Revised on aural or visual stimulation and oral or written response execution, thus allowing for the measurement of intra- and intersensory integration. The increase in digit span scores reversed to a decrease with early adulthood. The slope of the regression line was small but significant. A 4 X 3 X 2 multivariate analysis of variance showed a significant effect of age and education on a combined score comprising the I I digit span scores. Differences of age and education were predicted by the auditory and visual input scores. The article discusses the cognitive correlates and the age-related changes in digit span from the biological standpoint.