Visual perception and aging.

Abstract

A series of studies performed in our laboratory on aging and its effect on perceptual processing and working memory capacity for visual stimuli are reviewed. Specifically, studies on luminance, colour, motion, texture, and symmetry processing are reported. Furthermore, experiments on the capacity to retain size and spatial frequency information are also discussed. The general conclusion is that there are a number of perceptual abilities that diminish with age. However, the extent of these deficits will depend on the complexity of the neural circuitry involved for processing a given task. This is also true for visual working memory where no evidence of loss due to aging is demonstrated for processing low-level visual information, when individual differences in sensory input are compensated for. It is concluded that perceptual processing deficits due to aging (like working memory) will become evident when the computational load reaches a certain level of complexity (larger or more complex network) even if the tasks remain cognitively simple.Throughout life humans interact with the environment in response to their perception of the world. In the early stages of development, the world as we perceive it changes rapidly. We are born with rudimentary preset abilities that are refined in early life by maturation and interaction with the environment. The capacity to perceive the world correctly reaches a high level of sophistication that is unparalleled by any artificial system. Regardless of the very complex processing required to adequately represent the external world, our abilities become so refined and automatic that we are unaware of the immense computation required to perceive it. During adulthood, our sensory and perceptual abilities also change but these changes are usually subtle, often gradual, so they are seldom noticed. However, under controlled laboratory conditions, it is possible to isolate perceptual functions that are clearly affected by aging.

Perceptual identification across the life span: a dissociation of early gains and late losses

“…In early life this rudimentary set becomes refined by maturation and by our interaction with the environment until our perceptual capacities reach its highest level of sophistication in early adulthood. However, soon after the zenith human visual information processing starts to be affected by aging (for reviews see Faubert, 2002;Spear, 1993). This pattern of performance is in accord with common views of the life span development of basic information-processing mechanisms as an inverted-U-shaped pattern of rise and fall (e.g., Belmont, 1996;Dempster, 1992).…”

“…Relatively speaking, the development and aging of perceptual functions are studied less. As for aging effects, the main question is as to what perceptual abilities are or are not influenced by aging, and why (see Faubert, 2002). As for childhood development, a major focus of research is on the neural mechanisms underlying perceptual developmental and how it is affected by visual experience.…”

Reading performance in middle-aged adults with declines in accommodation

“…Thus far, little is known about age-related declines in reading ability, while many other visual abilities have been reported to be degraded (Betts et al, 2007;Daneman & Carpenter, 1980;Derefeldt et al, 1979;Faubert, 2002;Faubert & Overbury, 2000;Fiorentini, Porciatti, Morrone, & Burr, 1996;Johnson & Marshall, 1995;Owsley et al, 1983;Rayner & Inhoff, 1981;Sekuler & Sekuler, 2000;Trick & Silverman, 1991;Wood & Bullimore, 1995;Wright & Drasdo, 1985). For example, Akutsu et al (1991) found that elderly participants who did not suffer from eye disease (60-74 years of age) read as fast as young participants for character sizes ranging from 0.3°to 1.0°.…”

“…, and so on (see Faubert, 2002, andSekuler, 2000, for a review). Not only such perceptual abilities, but also the optical system, the very entrance of the visual system, shows a decline in function with age.…”

Acceptability and Face Validity of a Geriatric Self-Medication Assessment Tool

“…The lack of comments for this task was unexpected, because colour perception is important to medication adherence, and we anticipated that participants would identify concerns in this area. Colour vision changes with advancing age, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and cognition may also play a role in an (p = 0.64) (p = 0.65) (p = 0.08) SD = standard deviation. *n = 19 because one participant did not answer the question.…”