Social network indices impact spoken word recognition across the adult lifespan

Social engagement is critical for cognitive well-being in older adulthood, but little is known about the relationship between the mechanisms of language processing and social networks as listeners age. In young, normal-hearing listeners diverse social networks are known to support more flexible speech processing (Kutlu et al., 2024). The competition dynamics of word recognition change with age, even in people with normal hearing (Colby and McMurray, 2023). Thus, we ask whether large, diverse social networks can bolster language processing in older adulthood. The current study tested a large group of adults (N = 76, 30–80 years old) on a Visual World Paradigm task to assess the real-time competition dynamics underlying spoken word recognition and a Social Network Questionnaire as a measure of the quality and quantity of their social engagement. Data collection is ongoing, but preliminary analyses suggest listeners with more dense social networks activate words faster, and those who regularly converse with more individuals better manage competition between words. This work confirms the importance of maintaining social bonds in older adulthood.