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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
05:33
Three-Dimensional Shape Modeling and Analysis of Brain Structures
Published on: November 14, 2019
Preservation of shape discrimination in aging
Claudine Habak1, Frances Wilkinson, Hugh R Wilson
1Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada. Claudine.Habak@umontreal.ca
Journal of Vision
|January 8, 2010
Summary
Healthy aging impairs texture-defined shape processing but not luminance-defined shapes or complex shape combinations in the human visual cortex. Age does not slow shape processing speed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Vision Science
Background:
- Object representation in the human visual cortex increases in complexity at higher levels.
- Intermediate shapes are crucial for representing complex objects.
- Healthy aging negatively impacts cortical function, including visual processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of aging on the efficiency and speed of neuronal mechanisms for shape processing.
- To understand how age influences the representation of shapes defined by different visual features.
- To examine age-related changes in the processing of complex shape combinations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized deformed circular shapes to probe object representation.
- Varied shape characteristics (texture vs. luminance) to assess processing.
- Assessed lateral interactions among shapes to evaluate neural mechanisms.
- Measured performance and processing speed across different age groups.
Main Results:
- Age-related performance decline was observed for texture-defined shapes, but not for luminance-defined shapes.
- No age-related slowing in the speed of shape processing was detected.
- Neural processing of complex shape combinations remained largely intact in older adults.
- Lateral interactions among shapes showed preserved function with age.
Conclusions:
- Age effects on texture-defined shape processing likely originate in earlier visual stages.
- The robust nature of complex shape combination representation contributes to its preservation with age.
- Specific aspects of visual shape processing are more vulnerable to aging than others.
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