Verbal Fluency Across the Lifespan

About the Study

This study investigates how performance on both traditional and novel verbal fluency tasks varies with age in healthy adults. Verbal fluency refers to the ability to produce words belonging to a specific category or starting with a particular letter within a limited time frame.

We will examine verbal fluency across the lifespan using a range of tasks which explicitly manipulate executive demands. This will provide insights into how language production and executive abilities change as people grow older.

Who Can Participate?

We are looking for healthy adults in the following age groups:

• 20-35 years
• 40-60 years
• 65-80 years

All participants must be fluent in English and have no history of any neurological diagnosis that could affect language abilities.

What Will You Be Asked to Do?

During the online study session conducted via Zoom, you will complete a series of tasks, including:

• Traditional semantic fluency
• RVIP digit task
• Dual task
• Inhibition task
• Category switch task
• Associative-Dissociative task (ADT)

You will also complete the National Adult Reading Level Test (NART) and a demographic and health questionnaire.

Why is This Research Important?

This comprehensive verbal fluency assessment across adulthood will provide insights into how the cognitive processes involved in language production may change naturally with age. The research will also increase knowledge of typical age-related cognitive changes to aid earlier detection of conditions like dementia.