Adjusting learning behavior to changing cognitive abilities from childhood to old age

What is it about?

As humans, we have remarkable abilities to adjust our behavior to new challenges and situations. For example, we often need to master new technologies like smartphones or the internet. These abilities change throughout life, from childhood to young adulthood and older age. This study explores how people of different ages adjust their behavior in situations where it’s unclear what the best choice is. Participants—including children, adolescents, younger adults, and older adults—played a fun computer game where the goal was to earn as many points as possible. The researchers developed a new theory to explain age differences in learning across the lifespan. The key finding is that differences in performance between age groups are not simply due to learning deficits. Instead, they may reflect smart adjustments to the brain's available resources at different ages. For example, because thinking speed (or "processing speed") tends to be slower in older adults, they might rely on different strategies that balance effort and accuracy. This study suggests that learning behaviors across the lifespan are shaped by these kinds of adaptive adjustments, helping people make the most of their cognitive resources at any age.

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Photo by Ling App on Unsplash

Photo by Ling App on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research challenges the idea that learning differences across the lifespan are just deficits. Instead, it shows that children and older adults may use adaptive strategies that make the best use of their cognitive resources. Recognizing these smart adjustments helps us better understand learning at all ages and could inform strategies for education and lifelong learning.