A study in the journal Experimental Aging Research finds that senior citizens who were reminded about their age and stereotypes about old age performed worse on memory tests than secure seniors.

    發表在《實驗老年研究》（Experimental Aging Research）雜志的一項研究發現，與那些自信的老年人相比，在記憶力測試方面，當給老年人提及他們的年齡以及關于老年的一些舊觀念的時候，他們的表現要差一些。

    Elderly Who Forget Age Remember Better

    Senior citizens, don’t believe the hype. Because a new study finds that older folks who accept that seniors’ memories get worse do worse on memory tests. The finding was published in the journal Experimental Aging Research.

    Scientists interested in the effects of stereotype on memory enlisted 103 seniors between 60- and 82-years-old to take a memory test. Before the test, some subjects were told that the test checked the effects of age on memory. Researchers call this a threat—it reminds participants of the stereotype. That group was also asked to write down their age after reading the instructions, again homing in on the stereotype.

    The other group was told that the test controlled for biases. This could make them feel more secure. Researchers also gave participants a stigma consciousness questionnaire to test how strongly they bought into negative stereotypes.

    The results: participants who got reminded of their age and the old age, poor memory stereotype did significantly worse. Those who say they feel stigmatized also performed more poorly. So your memory may function better just by believing that it will. In which case, you really will eventually figure out where you left your car keys.

    忘記年齡的老年人記憶更好

    老年朋友們，不要相信那些有關老年的宣傳。因為一項新的研究發現，那些接受老年人的記憶力越來越差的觀點的人，他們的在記憶力測試方面表現更糟糕。該項研究發表在《實驗老年研究》（Experimental Aging Research）雜志上。

    科學家們對模式化觀念對記憶力的影響很感興趣，他們召集了103人年齡在60到82歲之間的老年人參與一項記憶力測試。在測試時之前，科學家們告訴一些受試者這項測試檢查年齡對記憶力的影響。研究人員把這稱之為一種威脅---它提醒了實驗參與者的那些舊觀念。研究人員還讓該組受試者在讀完說明后寫下他們的年齡，這又導向了舊觀念。

    研究人員告訴另外一組受試者，這項測試控制了偏差。這能讓受試者們感到更加踏實。研究者們還給實驗參與者一份“污名”意識問卷調查表，用來檢測負面的舊觀念對他們的影響到底有多強。

    結果是：實驗參與者的年齡以及老齡情況、糟糕的記憶力舊觀念被提及后，他們在記憶力測試方面的表現明顯差很多。那些感到“受辱”的人表現更糟糕。所以，只要相信你的記憶力不差，你的記憶能力就會更好。這樣的話，最終你就會真地找到你到底把車鑰匙放到什么地方了。

Vocabulary:

Experimental：實驗的
Senior citizen：老年人
Stereotype：；模式化觀念；老一套
Secure：有把握的；安全的
Hype：天花亂墜的宣傳
Enlist：征召
Participant：參與者
Home in: 導向（目標）；（思想、注意力）集中于
Stigma: 恥辱；羞恥
Consciousness: 意識；觀念
Questionnaire: 調查表
Negative: 負面的