The Dynamic Coupling of Goal Engagement and Cognition in Daily Life
Jeremy Hamm, Jacob Shane, Jacqueline Mogle, Laura Klepacz, Matthew Pierce, Kelly Parker

TL;DR
The study shows that daily changes in goal engagement are linked to changes in cognitive performance, especially executive functioning.
Contribution
It reveals that daily fluctuations in goal engagement are connected to dynamic shifts in cognition, particularly in executive functioning.
Findings
Daily increases in goal engagement predict better executive functioning.
Higher goal engagement is associated with better episodic memory in middle-aged and older adults.
Goal engagement fluctuates meaningfully within individuals on a daily basis.
Abstract
Consistent evidence shows that investing time and persistent effort toward valued goals (goal engagement) is linked to adaptive development and healthy cognitive aging. However, little is known about the dynamic nature of goal engagement in daily life and the extent to which fluctuations in this motivational resource are linked to day-to-day changes in cognitive functioning. Using 14 days of data from an ongoing measurement-burst study (n = 217, Mage=54±15, 65% female), we examined the extent to which day-to-day changes in goal engagement predicted corresponding shifts in daily episodic memory and executive functioning when controlling for time, age, sex, and education. We assessed daily goal engagement using the persistence in goal engagement scale (e.g., “When I encountered problems today, I didn’t give up until I solved them”), daily episodic memory using a 15-word immediate recall…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAging and Gerontology Research · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Cognitive Functions and Memory
