title: Aging delays strategic modulation of the fixation reflex.
abstract: Stimuli that project onto central vision facilitate maintenance of eye position, a phenomenon called the fixation reflex. Endogenous control over this fixation reflex enables one to willfully look away. The current study investigated whether these behaviors, which are important for effective visual orienting, change with advancing age. Previous research established that patients with frontal lobe damage exhibit weaker fixation reflexes and reduced control over this reflex. In light of brain atrophy occurring during healthy aging, we predicted similar but less robust changes in neurologically healthy older relative to young adults. The results generally supported this prediction, which has negative implications for performance of time-sensitive visual-orienting tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult