Due to the tendency to engage in _______________, many older adults repeat the same words on tests of verbal fluency when they are asked to produce words that all begin with the same letter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Perseveration refers to the tendency to repeat the same behavior or response even when it is no longer appropriate or effective. In the context of verbal fluency tasks, this means that older adults may get stuck producing the same words over and over again, especially when trying to come up with words that start with a particular letter. This is a common cognitive manifestation of age-related declines in executive function and working memory. Task-switching (A) and inhibition (D) are also cognitive processes that are relevant to verbal fluency tasks, but they do not specifically explain why older adults may repeat the same words on these tests. Assimilation (B) is not a relevant term in this context.

Due to the Tendency to Engage in _______________, Many Older