Effect of age on strategic problem solving abilities using an open ended version of the Twenty Questions task

The study explores the age-related trends for an open ended version of the Twenty Questions task, which requires an individual to freely choose questions pertaining to a category in order to organize concepts and solve problems, further making it sensitive in assessing frontal lobe functions. The study comprised of 63 adult participants with 21 participants each, in the young, middle and old age group, to whom an open-ended Twenty Questions task was administered. The accuracy of response, number and type of questions asked and impulsivity were measured. Statistically significant differences in performance were observed between old vs. young (p < 0.05) and old vs. middle aged (p=0.002) adults. Older adults obtained lower accuracy scores (Median= 0.333) and highest number of hypothesis scanning questions (Median=6.1667) and impulsivity (Median=3.333). The study highlights a reflection of frontal lobe functioning on the age-related differences in concept formulation with problem solving abilities, on a Twenty Questions task.