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Mental imagery in elderly: how much it influences cognitive functioning?
Journal Title: RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA  
Author/s: Maria Guarnera, Sabrina Castellano, Santo Di Nuovo 
Year:  2014 Issue: 1 Language: Italian 
Pages:  12 Pg. 147-158 FullText PDF:  181 KB
DOI:  10.3280/RIP2014-001008
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After having reviewed the literature on Mental Imagery in old age, with reference to the specific processes involved and to the pertinent stimuli, a methodological problem have been raised: if and how much the specific skills of visualization and image processing influence the performance in tests commonly used for the assessment of general mental decay: i.e., Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The study involved a sample of 199 people, 90 males and 109 females, aged between 55 and 93 years. The results confirmed the preponderance of the imagination (Mental Imagery Test, total score) in predicting general cognitive performance (MMSE and MoCA scores); this prediction is much higher than the other cognitive tests and also than the variables age and education.
Keywords: Mental imagery, elderly, cognitive impairment, MMSE, MoCA.

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Maria Guarnera, Sabrina Castellano, Santo Di Nuovo, Mental imagery in elderly: how much it influences cognitive functioning? in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA " 1/2014, pp. 147-158, DOI:10.3280/RIP2014-001008

   

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