Potencial cognitivo y envejecimiento

Résumé

The present work starts out from the tenet that cognitive development is intrinsically contextual. With this it is possible to defend the stance that the development occurs in any stage through an integration of genetic and experiential factors. This is clearly seen in intellectual aging. The aging mind has two faces: the fluid mechanical face and the cristallized pragmatic one. The results of the investigation show that cognitive mechanics presents consistent losses with aging that can be partly palliated with training. Conversely, cognitive pragmatics, represented by expert professional knowledge and wisdom, is stabilized and even progresses with aging. A review is made of the most important results of research into the two prototypical areas of cognitive knowledge, placing special emphasis on the emerging field of wisdom. The work is concluded highlighting the compensatory and enriching role of knowledge and culture and their implications for education of the elderly.