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Changes in the spatial spread of attention with ageing
Rebecca K Lawrence1, Mark Edwards1, Stephanie C Goodhew1
1Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Australia.
Acta Psychologica
|July 9, 2018
Summary
Healthy aging impacts spatial attention, with older adults showing a narrower attentional spread compared to younger adults, particularly when visual cues are absent. This research clarifies age-related changes in attention.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Human Aging Research
Background:
- Spatial attention is crucial for visual processing, directing cognitive resources to specific locations.
- Understanding how aging affects spatial attention is vital for cognitive health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the spatial spread of attention and healthy aging.
- To examine age-related differences in attentional spread using an inhibition of return task.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an inhibition of return task to measure the spatial distribution of inhibition as a marker of attentional spread.
- Conducted two experiments, with the second comparing placeholder-present and placeholder-absent conditions across age groups.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibited a more restricted spread of attention compared to younger adults, particularly in the absence of placeholder stimuli.
- Age differences in inhibitory spread were significant only when placeholder stimuli were not used.
Conclusions:
- Healthy aging is associated with age-related differences in the spatial spread of attention.
- The use of placeholder stimuli in previous research may have masked age-related changes in attentional spread.
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