Modality Effects and Memory in the Aged

Abstract

Three experiments were performed using unrelated digit materials and prose passages to evaluate whether an auditory or visual presentation of material would be best for an aged population. The data suggest that the choice of modality appears to depend on the particular presentation conditions used rather than on the type of stimulus materials. The auditory modality was better than the visual with a sequential presentation that provided only temporal cues (Experiment 2); the modalities did not differ when the visual presentations also contained spatial cues (Experiments 1 and 2); and the visual modality was better than the auditory when subjects could both read and review the material (Experiments 1–3). The last of these findings is considered the most relevant to nonlaboratory training situations since there is generally an opportunity for review during reading.