Visual function and cognitive aging: differential role of contrast sensitivity in verbal versus spatial tasks.
Cognitive and sensory function are correlated in older adults. Sensory function may provide an index of neurological integrity (common-cause hypothesis). Declining sensory input may also directly impair cognition (direct-cause hypothesis). Accordingly, sensory function should more strongly predict cognitive performance and should account for more age-related variability in tasks with higher sensory demands. In a cross-sectional adult life span sample, visual contrast sensitivity was a better predictor and accounted for more of the age-related variability in high sensory-demand tasks, compared with low sensory-demand tasks, consistent with the direct-cause hypothesis. The results suggest a direct role for sensory function in cognitive aging when task conditions place heavy demands on sensory processing.
Glass
Jennifer M
JM
Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248, USA. jglass@umich.edu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012858:Size Perception; D013067:Speech Perception; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014792:Visual Acuity