The Effects of Aging on the Verbal Control of Motor Behavior

The effects of aging on self control were investigated within the framework of Luria's theory of the verbal regulation of motor behavior. Forty-eight people between the ages of 65–96 were given a set of 24 tasks requiring them to either make or inhibit a motor response (pushing a level) in the presence of different combinations of verbal and physical stimuli. Self-control was also assessed by their ability to write the phrase “New Jersey Chamber of Commerce” as slowly as possible. Performances on the 24 tasks were compared with those of children in previous research. It was found that verbal control of behavior remains strong until very late in life. The people who did well on the set of 24 tasks displayed more self-control on the slow writing test, had faster regular writing speed, and were more physically and socially active in their everyday lives than those who did poorly. Implications of the study are that it might be helpful to revise the practice of forcing people to retire just because they have reached a particular age and that older people can help maintain their skills by being physically and socially active.