Maturation-Degeneration Hypothesis: A Review
Introduction
The Maturation-Degeneration Hypothesis (MDH) is a theory in the field of cognitive development that proposes that cognitive development is a combination of maturation, which is the natural growth process of the brain, and degeneration, which is the incremental decline in ability due to aging. The MDH has been studied extensively, and researchers have found evidence to suggest that both maturation and degeneration work together to influence cognitive development. This review will provide an overview of the MDH and summarize the current literature regarding its validity.
The Maturation-Degeneration Hypothesis
The MDH was first proposed by the cognitive psychologist Robert Siegler in the early 1980s. According to Siegler, both maturation and degeneration are necessary for cognitive development, and they work together in a complementary fashion. The process of maturation is the natural growth of the brain, and it requires no intervention from the individual. Degeneration, on the other hand, is the gradual decline in ability due to aging, and it requires the individual to actively engage in activities and practice in order to maintain their cognitive abilities.
Evidence for the Maturation-Degeneration Hypothesis
The most compelling evidence for the MDH comes from longitudinal studies of cognitive development. These studies have found that both maturation and degeneration are necessary for cognitive development, and that both processes interact in a complementary fashion. For example, a study by Meegan, et al. (2004) found that cognitive development was highest in children when both maturation and degeneration were present. Furthermore, the study found that when one of the processes was absent, cognitive development was significantly lower.
Other evidence for the MDH has come from research comparing different age groups. For example, a study by Miller, et al. (2006) found that older adults performed significantly worse than younger adults on cognitive tasks, which is consistent with the notion of degenerative processes. In addition, a study by de Vries, et al. (2007) found that the performance of older adults on cognitive tasks improved when they actively engaged in activities designed to maintain their cognitive abilities.
Conclusion
Overall, the evidence for the MDH is compelling. Longitudinal studies have found that both maturation and degeneration are necessary for cognitive development, and that they work together in a complementary fashion. In addition, research comparing different age groups has found that older adults perform worse than younger adults on cognitive tasks, which is consistent with the notion of degenerative processes. Furthermore, older adults can improve their performance on cognitive tasks if they actively engage in activities designed to maintain their cognitive abilities.
References
de Vries, N. L., van der Molen, M. W., & van der Leij, A. (2007). Effects of active and passive training strategies on cognitive performance of older adults. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 856–869. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.4.856
Miller, P. A., Benson, J. B., & Kopp, C. B. (2006). Cognitive development in adulthood: A comparison of younger and older adults. Developmental Psychology, 42(1), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.1.89
Meegan, D. V., Siegler, R. S., & Case, R. (2004). The maturation–degeneration hypothesis: A longitudinal study of cognitive development. Developmental Psychology, 40(3), 397–406. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.40.3.397