Modulation of distraction in ageing.
A cueing paradigm was employed to examine modulation of distraction due to a visual singleton. Subjects were required to make a saccade to a shape-singleton target. A predictive location cue indicated the hemifield where a target would appear. Older adults made more anticipatory saccades than younger adults, and were less accurate for making an eye movement in the vicinity of a target. However, younger and older adults likewise benefited from the cue; distraction was reduced when the distractor singleton appeared in an uncued hemisphere. The ability to compensate for problems with distraction in older and younger adults through use of the precue suggests that attention to a general region of space, rather than a specific location, may be enough to modulate distraction.
Ryan
Jennifer D
JD
The Rotman Research Institute, Canada; The University of Toronto, Canada. jryan@rotman-baycrest.on.ca
Shen
Jiye
J
Reingold
Eyal M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011601:Psychophysics; D012438:Saccades; D012718:Set, Psychology