Age-related Differences in Confrontation Naming Ability according to Visual Stimulus Valence

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of emotions on the confrontation naming of healthy elders and young adults. Methods: The study had a total of 60 subjects (30 elders and 30 young adults). In the confrontation naming task, the researcher asked the subjects to say the name of the picture presented on a screen as quickly and accurately as possible. Results: First, the results of the study showed significantly lower accuracy in the elders compared to the young adults and a significant difference in accuracy according to emotional valence. There was a significant difference between positive and neutral emotional valance and between negative and neutral emotional valance. Additionally, the interaction between the group and emotional valence was statistically significant. The post-hoc test showed that the naming accuracy of the elders was lower than that of the young in the negative emotional valance. Secondly, elders had a longer response time than the young adults. Also, there was a significant difference in response time according to emotional valence. There was a significant difference in response time in three emotional valences (positive, negative, neutral), and the response time increased in neutral <positive <negative. Finally, the interaction between the group and emotional valence was statistically significant, which attributed to the longer response time of the elders compared to the young adults in the positive and negative emotional valance. Conclusion: The study results suggest that emotional valence may interfere with word production, and that such interference may be greater for the elderly than for the young.