Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 54, Issue 3 P165-P172, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America
Age differences in the strategic allocation of visual attention
LR Gottlob and DJ Madden
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. [email protected]
The allocation of visual spatial attention was investigated in two groups
of adults, younger (n = 24; M = 19 yrs) and older (n = 24; M = 68 yrs). Two
sequential target displays were presented on a computer screen. If a target
letter appeared in Display 1, then observers were to identify a target
letter in Display 2. Based on accuracy of Display 1 target detection, the
older adults had a more restricted range of visual processing than the
younger adults. Based on reaction times for Display 2 target
identification, older adults appeared to use a spotlight (serial) scanning
mechanism, whereas younger adults appeared to use an activity-distribution
(parallel) mechanism. Results are consistent with age-related cognitive
slowing, but also suggest a difference in strategy according to the
availability of visual information.
