title: The effects of age on the spatial and temporal integration of global motion.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions of local element speed and/or spatial displacement to age-related deficits in global motion processing. Motion coherence thresholds (79% correct) were measured for discriminating the direction of translational random dot kinematograms (RDKs) as a function of dot speed and spatial displacement across the adult lifespan (20-79 years). Age-related impairments in global motion processing were only apparent in observers 70-79 years of age. In agreement with previous studies, we found an age-related impairment at low (0.625 deg/s) and high speeds (10 deg/s). However, these effects were heavily mediated by dot spatial displacement. Motion coherence thresholds were also most markedly elevated in women aged over 70 years. These findings suggest a prominent role of spatial integration in global motion processing. Moreover, global motion perception appears to be relatively well preserved until around 70 years of age.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shimozaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult