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Optomotor and neuropsychological performance in old age
C Klein1, B Fischer, K Hartnegg
1Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany. klein@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de
Experimental Brain Research
|December 29, 2000
Summary
Aging significantly impacts eye movement control, particularly antisaccade tasks, and cognitive functions like the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Performance declines further after age 73, especially in tasks measuring saccade disinhibition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Delayed saccade initiation is a known aging effect.
- Antisaccade control research in aging populations is limited.
- Saccade control may offer insights into neurodevelopmental aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate aging effects on visually guided saccades (prosaccades) and antisaccades.
- To assess age-related changes in neuropsychological functions.
- To compare performance across three distinct age groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing young (20-35), middle-aged (59-73), and older adults (74-88).
- Assessed prosaccades and antisaccades under gap and overlap conditions.
- Administered neuropsychological tests including WCST, working memory, and go-nogo discrimination.
Main Results:
- Participants aged 59-73 showed reduced optomotor and neuropsychological performance, notably in saccade parameters and WCST.
- A further decline was observed after age 73, particularly in saccade disinhibition (e.g., directional errors) and some cognitive tests.
- Two factors explained 76% of the age-related variance in optomotor performance.
Conclusions:
- Saccade control, especially antisaccades, is sensitive to aging.
- Neuropsychological functions also decline with age, correlating with optomotor performance.
- Saccade control investigation is a promising tool for neurodevelopmental aging research.