Age-related differences in visual search strategies and postural control during single-leg standing

This study aimed to examine the interaction between visual search and postural control in young and older adults during a standing posture task while performing a Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) task.

The study participants consisted of 30 individuals, divided into two groups: the young adult group (n = 15) and the older adult group (n = 15). Participants performed the MOT task while maintaining a single-leg stance, during which gaze entropy and Center of Pressure (COP) displacement were measured to analyze differences in visual search strategies and postural control.

The results indicated that gaze entropy was modulated by the number of targets in the MOT task. Young adults reduced gaze entropy when tracking two targets by utilizing a visual pivot to simultaneously track both targets but exhibited increased gaze entropy when tracking three targets. In contrast, the older group demonstrated a tendency for reduced gaze entropy as task difficulty increased, suggesting a strategic shift toward maintaining postural stability over active visual search. COP analysis revealed that the older group exhibited greater COP displacement compared to young adults, reflecting age-related differences in postural control. Additionally, under increased cognitive load, the older group experienced greater difficulty in maintaining postural stability, supporting the notion of limited attentional resource allocation.

These findings suggest that as task demands increase, older individuals prioritize postural stability over visual search. Future research should further explore the relationship between visual search and postural control across diverse contexts.