Understanding the Trajectory of Metacognitive Capacity in Aging and Implications for Measuring Subjective Experience
On May 2, 2022, the National Academies Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education’s Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences (BBCSS) convened a seminar to educate staff from the National Institute on Aging on new research in the science of metacognition across the lifespan. At the seminar, titled Understanding the Trajectory of Metacognitive Capacity in Aging and Implications for Measuring Subjective Experience, experts shared their research on metacognition (the ability to think about and reflect upon one’s own cognitive processes), the measurement of metacognition, changes in metacognition during healthy aging, and implications for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Experts spoke on two overarching topics: (1) examining metacognitive capacity and (2) interoception and the subjective experience of pain. Talks illustrated how research on metacognition can inform research on cognitive processes themselves. Talks also identified gaps in basic research and opportunities for identification of targets for interventions that can support healthy aging.
The full workshop report (PDF, 474K) is available.