Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
07:06
Binocular Dynamic Visual Acuity in Eyeglass-Corrected Myopic Patients
Published on: March 29, 2022
Older adults are guided by their dynamic perceptions during aperture crossing
Amy L Hackney1, Michael E Cinelli
1Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Gait & Posture
|July 24, 2012
Summary
Older adults exhibit distinct dynamic perceptions and greater variability in shoulder rotations when navigating apertures compared to young adults. These perceptual differences likely stem from age-related changes in dynamic balance control.
Area of Science:
- Human movement science
- Perception-action coupling
- Gerontology
Background:
- Perception and action are dynamically coupled, influencing each other.
- Previous research noted action differences between young and older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if age-related action differences are perception-driven.
- Determine if perceptual judgments guide action in different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Young (n=10) and older adults (n=9) performed aperture passability judgments (static/dynamic) and physical passage tasks.
- Participants judged aperture passability (0.9-1.8x shoulder width) from 5m.
- Physical passage involved approaching and moving through apertures (1-1.8x shoulder width).
Main Results:
- Older adults showed greater shoulder rotation variability and at larger relative aperture widths than young adults.
- Older adults had similar static but different dynamic perceptual judgments compared to young adults.
Conclusions:
- Age-related differences in dynamic perception were observed.
- These dynamic perceptual differences are likely linked to impaired dynamic balance control in older adults.
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