The structure of visuospatial memory in adulthood

The present study aimed to investigate the structure of visuospatial memory in adulthood. Adults 40–89 years of age (n = 160) performed simple storage and complex visuospatial span tasks. Simple storage tasks were distinguished into three presentation formats: (i) visual, which involved maintaining shapes and textures; (ii) spatial-sequential, which involved maintaining sequentially-presented locations; and (iii) spatial-simultaneous, which involved maintaining patterns of locations. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that, among the domain-differentiated models, the one considering visuospatial memory in its simple visual, spatial-sequential and spatial-simultaneous components and complex visuospatial memory yielded a good fit to our data. Structural equation modeling also showed that age had a direct effect on visual, spatial-sequential and spatial-simultaneous memory, and on complex visuospatial memory. Altogether these results suggest the importance of considering both the type of processing involved (in simple storage vs. complex visuospatial tasks) and the presentation format of the stimuli in the visuospatial domain.

► Different models of confirmatory factor analysis were tested in adulthood participants.
► The best model involved simple storage tasks divided on the basis of presentation format and complex visuospatial tasks.
► Simple storage tasks were distinguished in visual, spatial-sequential and spatial-simultaneous.
► Age was directly related to all the visuospatial working memory factors.