What is the contribution of executive functions to communicative-pragmatic skills? Insights from aging and different types of pragmatic inference

The role of executive functions in supporting the pragmatics communication has been extensively examined clinical populations, but is still under-explored healthy aging. In this study we addressed skills, including inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, older adults’ communicative-pragmatic abilities. Pragmatics was assessed by measuring understanding figurative language, narrative texts, humor, implicatures. A hierarchical regression analysis using composite scores evidenced a global effect on abilities, beyond demographic theory mind aspects. More fine-grained analyses showed that memory strongest predictor all pragmatic tasks. Specifically, comprehending narratives humor seemed to capitalize primarily upon whereas language implicatures relied some extent flexibility. Conversely, inhibition did not stand out as robust pragmatics. We argue allows for simultaneous consideration multiple pieces information needed inferencing, only once played its other aspects, such flexibility might come into play. Overall, highlights diverse skills aging, more generally contributes shed light competence adults.