Age-related decline of visual processing components in change detection.
Previous research has suggested that an age-related decline in change detection may be due to older adults using a more conservative response criterion. However, this finding may reflect methodological limitations of the traditional change detection design, in which displays are presented continuously until a change is detected. Across 2 experiments, the authors assessed adult age differences in a version of change detection that required a response after each pair of pre- and postchange displays, thus reducing the potential contribution of response criterion. Older adults performed worse than younger adults, committing more errors and requiring a greater number of display cycles for correct detection. These age-related performance declines were substantially reduced after controlling statistically for elementary perceptual speed. Search strategy was largely similar for the 2 age groups, but perceptual speed was less successful in accounting for age-related variance in detectability when a more precise spatial localization of change was required (Experiment 2). Thus, the negative effect of aging in the present tasks lies in a reduction of detection efficiency due largely to processing speed, though some strategy-level effects may also contribute. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).
Costello
Matthew C
MC
Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, USA. mccostel@iusb.edu
Madden
David J
DJ
Mitroff
Stephen R
SR
Whiting
Wythe L
WL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult