Adult age differences in the Color Stroop Test: A comparison between an Item-by-item and a Blocked version

Ludwig, C.; Borella, E.; Tettamanti, M.; de Ribaupierre, A.

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2009.09.040

« Previous Next »Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Volume 51, Issue 2 , Pages 135-142, September 2010

Adult age differences in the Color Stroop Test: A comparison between an Item-by-item and a Blocked version

C. Ludwig
- Center for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Geneva, Route de Drize 7, CH-1227 Carouge, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Corresponding author at: Center for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Geneva, Route de Drize 7, CH-1227 Carouge, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 0 22 379 3783; fax: +41 0 22 379 3787.
E. Borella
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
M. Tettamanti
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
A. de Ribaupierre
- Center for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Geneva, Route de Drize 7, CH-1227 Carouge, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland

Received 28 April 2009; received in revised form 7 September 2009; accepted 10 September 2009. published online 21 October 2009.

Abstract

The Color Stroop Test is consensually considered as a task to assess the efficiency of inhibitory mechanisms. If the Stroop interference effect is largely undisputed, it is also acknowledged that the size of this effect varies as a function of various task manipulations, such as the task format. The aim of the present study was to compare the size of adult age-related differences in inhibition as assessed by two different versions of the Color Stroop Test: a standard Blocked paper-and-pencil version and a computerized Item-by-item one. Results showed pronounced age-related differences in the interference effect in the Blocked version, but not in the Item-by-item one. These findings are discussed in terms of the characteristics of the tasks. The choice of the appropriate version with respect to clinical aims is also addressed.

Keywords: Cognition and aging, Color Stroop Test format, Interference