Brain networks involved in working and spatial memory are closely intertwined, outlining a potential relation between these processes, which are also affected in non-pathological aging. Working memory is a pre-requisite for other complex cognitive processes. The main aim of this study is to explore how working memory capacity (WMC) can influence the asymmetrical decline in spatial orientation strategies in an older segment of population compared to young participants. Forty-eight older adults and twelve young students took part in the study. Working memory and spatial memory were assessed using the Change Localization Task and The Boxes Room Task, respectively. In The Boxes Room Task, two different configurations assessed the use of egocentric and allocentric reference frames. Results showed that older adults with better WMC outperformed those with lower WMC in several tasks. Independently of WMC capacity, older participants performed better in the allocentric condition of The Boxes Room. In addition, young participants outscored low WMC older participants, but did not differ from high WMC older adults. Overly, these findings support the important relationship between working memory capacity and spatial orientations abilities. Thus, basic cognitive mechanisms engaged in information processing could inform about other brain processes more complex in nature, like spatial orientation skills.

涉及工作记忆和空间记忆的大脑网络紧密交织在一起，概述了这些过程之间的潜在关系，这些过程也在非病理性衰老中受到影响。工作记忆是其他复杂认知过程的先决条件。本研究的主要目的是探讨与年轻参与者相比，工作记忆容量 (WMC) 如何影响老年人口空间定向策略的不对称下降。48 名老年人和 12 名年轻学生参加了这项研究。工作记忆和空间记忆分别使用 Change Localization Task 和 The Boxes Room Task 进行评估。在 The Boxes Room Task 中，两种不同的配置评估了以自我为中心和以自我为中心的参考框架的使用。结果表明，WMC 较好的老年人在几项任务中的表现优于 WMC 较低的老年人。独立于 WMC 容量，年长的参与者在 The Boxes Room 的非中心条件下表现更好。此外，年轻参与者的得分高于 WMC 较低的老年参与者，但与 WMC 较高的老年人没有差异。总的来说，这些发现支持工作记忆容量和空间定向能力之间的重要关系。因此，参与信息处理的基本认知机制可以告知其他更复杂的大脑过程，如空间定位技能。但与高 WMC 老年人没有区别。总的来说，这些发现支持工作记忆容量和空间定向能力之间的重要关系。因此，参与信息处理的基本认知机制可以告知其他更复杂的大脑过程，如空间定位技能。但与高 WMC 老年人没有区别。总的来说，这些发现支持工作记忆容量和空间定向能力之间的重要关系。因此，参与信息处理的基本认知机制可以告知其他更复杂的大脑过程，如空间定位技能。