A sensory explanation for visual attention deficits in the elderly.
Optom Vis Sci
; 71(12): 743-9, 1994 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7898881
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Reduced visual attention has been implicated as a major factor in age-related deficits of real-world functioning such as driving. However, the contribution of sensory factors to visual attention deficits has not been delineated. The magnocellular stream, which is diminished in aging, provides the dominant input to attention, and could provide a direct visual sensory explanation for these attentional losses.METHODS:
We measured temporal response curves for transient visual attention in older and younger subjects. Attentional cues stimulated both the magnocellular and parvocellular streams.RESULTS:
Older subjects exhibited slower, weaker responses than younger subjects. The time course in younger subjects agreed with that obtained for magnocellular(M)-biased stimuli, whereas that of older subjects agreed with parvocellular(P)-biased responses.CONCLUSIONS:
The activation of transient visual attention is slower and weaker for elderly subjects, reflecting a reduced magnocellular input. This marks a primary visual cause for visual attention deficits of the elderly.
Buscar no Google
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atenção
/
Transtornos da Visão
/
Percepção Visual
/
Envelhecimento
/
Transtornos Cognitivos
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
1994
Tipo de documento:
Article