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This series of experiments explores the potential role of strategic flexibility in cognitive aging, and whether this construct can serve as a mechanism for cognitive reserve. A strategic flexibility task was designed utilizing matrix reasoning stimuli that each required one of two specific solution strategies: logico-analytic and visuospatial. It was formatted as a task-switching paradigm, assessing the ability to switch between solution strategies. Study 1 demonstrated the presence of switch-costs on this task using commonly measured metrics, as well on an alternate measure of task performance that combines reaction time and accuracy. Age-related switch-costs were noted, similar to those reported in set switching tasks using simpler items. Study 2 included assessment of CR proxies and introduced a redesigned version of this task, matching it more closely to existing paradigms of task-switching. It again found switch-costs that increased with aging. In addition, a relationship between switch-costs and CR proxies was noted, suggesting a relationship between strategic flexibility and CR. Study 3 utilized participants who had been studied extensively with neuropsychological assessments and structural neuroimaging. It aimed to investigate the associations between these data and measures of strategic flexibility. Results again indicated that age negatively affected strategic flexibility, but that individuals with higher CR as measured with standard proxies performed better. We then tested whether strategic flexibility moderated the relationship between cortical thickness and measures of cognitive performance. The strategic flexibility measure accounted for additional variance in cognitive performance over that explained by cortical thickness, suggesting that it may contribute to CR. Overall, the results are consistent with the idea that strategic flexibility might be one cognitive process that underlies cognitive reserve.This article is under review at Psychology and Aging. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document that will be published in the APA journal. |
