| Description |
Accurate detection of executive dysfunction in neuropsychological assessments is complicated by the fact that executive functioning (EF) is vulnerable to temporary disruption (i.e., lapses) across the lifespan, with more frequent lapses in older adulthood. Effortful regulation of affect (i.e., expressive suppression) is a well-known source of executive lapses in younger adults, but the generalizability of this depleting effect to older adults is unknown. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine whether EF is subject to depletion via expressive suppression and 2) to explore the possible relationship between depletion and global cognitive status in older adults. We compared the performance of 97 nondemented, community dwelling older adults on a battery of tests measuring EF and component processes both before and after exposure to emotionally-evocative stimuli (in either the nonregulating control group or the expressive suppression group). Participants also completed a screening of global cognitive status at baseline. Consistent with the hypothesized depletion effect, suppressing participants showed an attenuated practice effect on postmanipulation EF relative to controls, while performance on component processes was unaffected by suppression. Level of improvement on executive measures was unrelated to global cognitive status in both groups. These results suggest that depletion contributes to executive lapses in older adulthood. |
