# AGING, CLASSICAL CONDITIONING, AND MEMORY SYSTEMS

> **NIH NIH R01** · MADLYN/LEONARD ABRAMSON CTR/JEWISH LIFE · 1991 · $131,303

## Abstract

The model system of classical conditioning of the eyeblink response in
rabbits an(i humans has he potential to elucidate brain mechanisms
involved in learning, memory, and aging.  Considerable evidence exists
that memory has at least two major forms: one requiring conscious
recollection of specific learning episodes ("explicit" memory), and the
other involving the expression of learning hat is automatic, without
conscious or deliberate recollection ("implicit" memory).  Studies of
classical conditioning in human aging are of particular significance
because data may elaborate or challenge theoretical perspectives on
memory systems.  Research is proposed: (a) to describe more extensively
age differences in classical conditioning over the adult human life
span, (b) to test hypotheses about mechanisms involved in age effects on
classical conditioning, and (c) to explore he cohesion of the
theoretical construct of implicit memory in normal older adults and
patients with focal brain lesions.  A major aim of the first study is to
determine the age period when the largest age differences in eyeblink
conditioning occur.  Adults aged 30-99 years will be classically ,
conditioned and will be assessed on a battery of neuropsychological
tests.  We hypothesize that age differences will emerge in the period
between 45 and 55 years of age -- a period when the decline in reaction
time and Purkinje cell loss accelerate.  Simple reaction time and
neuropsychological measures of timing (cerebellar function) should be
the best predictors of efficiency of classical conditioning.  A major
aim of the second study is to determine whether there are conditions of
optimal timing of the CS-US interval between the conditioned and
unconditioned stimulus for
middle-aged and older adults when associative learning will be equal to
that in the young.  A major tim of the third study is to determine how
much of the effect of age on classical conditioning is due to health.  A
major aim of the fourth study is to explore brain memory systems in
patients with focal lesions and the role of focal brain damage in
implicit and explicit memory tasks.  Data from :his project will link
behavioral aging effects to the cerebellum and associate learning and
memory deficits in aging to this brain structure which is understudied
by gerontologists.  Results will extend he empirical base of knowledge
on aging and eyeblink classical conditioning as a form of implicit
memory.  We expect to demonstrate that implicit memory tasks are
performed in a consistent  manner in focal lesion patients, but are
dissociated (with some implicit memory tasks showing    stability while
others show decline) in normal aging when brain changes are not focal.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121641
- **Project number:** 1R01AG009752-01
- **Recipient organization:** MADLYN/LEONARD ABRAMSON CTR/JEWISH LIFE
- **Principal Investigator:** DIANA S WOODRUFF-PAK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $131,303
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1991-05-01 → 1995-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121641

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121641, AGING, CLASSICAL CONDITIONING, AND MEMORY SYSTEMS (1R01AG009752-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121641. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*