The Ups and Downs of Cognitive Function: Neuroticism and Negative Affect Drive Performance Inconsistency

Elizabeth Munoz, Robert S Stawski, Martin J Sliwinski, Joshua M Smyth, Stuart W S MacDonald and Shevaun Neupert

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2020, vol. 75, issue 2, 263-273

Abstract: ObjectivesResponse time inconsistency (RTI)—or trial-to-trial variability in speeded performance—is increasingly recognized as an indicator of transient lapses of attention, cognitive health status, and central nervous system integrity, as well as a potential early indicator of normal and pathological cognitive aging. Comparatively, little research has examined personality predictors of RTI across adulthood.MethodsWe evaluated the association between the personality trait neuroticism and RTI in a community-dwelling sample of 317 adults between the ages of 19–83 and tested for two indirect pathways through negative affect (NA) and cognitive interference (CI).ResultsThe personality trait neuroticism predicted greater RTI independent of mean response time performance and demographic covariates; the results were age-invariant. Furthermore, NA (but not CI) accounted for this association and moderated mediation model results indicated that older adults were more vulnerable to the adverse effects of NA.DiscussionNeuroticism predicts greater RTI irrespective of mean performance and this effect is driven largely by heightened negative emotionality that may be particularly detrimental for older adults.

Keywords: Cognition; Neuroticism; Inconsistency; Personality; Response time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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