Abstract: The effect of digit symbol training was tested with digit symbol andits two variations- "write from memory"and "copy test" in the aged (30 Ss,aver. 66 yrs old) and the young (20 Ss, aver. 25 yrs old)training groupsrespectively. Two control groups, matched in age, sex and educationallevel with the trained ones were used. The results indicate: 1. Theperformance of the aged group was significantly worse than the youngergroup; 2. After training, performance improved significantly in bothgroups, and the performance of the trained aged group was better thanthat of the younger control group. This shows that the mental ability ofthe aged might be improved by functional training, and the abilityrelated to memory is more responsive to training than that related toreaction time.

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