Abstract: Episodic memory includes two basic aspects, namely, memory for the content of a past event (item memory) and memory for its origin (source memory). Although it is well established that episodic memory functioning deteriorates with advance of age, the evidence with respect to the comparison of age-related differences between source memory and item memory is mixed (selectivity). In addition, broad individual differences can be observed in episodic memory aging (variability). The aim of the experiment was to investigate the selectivity and variability of episodic memory functioning in relation to anxiety. According to the scores on trait version of STAI, the high-trait and low-trait anxious subjects were screened respectively from young and old participants matched for educational level. In the first experiment, reality monitoring paradigm was used, and the sources (acting vs. listening) were present in either random or blocked ways. Results showed age-related deterioration in both item and source memory, but source memory was not more impaired than item memory, and the adverse impact of anxiety on episodic memory was observed only for the older group. In the second experiment, external source monitoring process was administered. Source encoding was either intentional or incidental while item encoding was always intentional. In addition to replicating the results of the first experiment, selective age and anxiety effects were found in source memory performance. Taken together, the results of the two experiments suggested that the selectivity of episodic memory aging was not related to the presentation ways and encoding effort for source, but was affected by the types of source; Anxiety had adverse impact on the variability in episodic memory aging, and mediated partial age-related differences in episodic memory performance

Key words: episodic memory, source memory, item memory, aging, anxiety