Abstract
Age related decline has been observed for a number of different types of processing speed (Salthouse, 2000), including psychophysical processing speed (the speed at which a representation of a physical stimulus can be formed). Although aging influences speed-accuracy trade-off (Starns & Ratcliff, 2010), rarely have estimates of psychophysical processing speed been derived from studies using a speed-accuracy tradeoff methodology that examines the time course of task performance. In three experiments a speed-accuracy trade-off design was used that required identification of gabor patch orientation after differing amounts of stimulus exposure. Modelling speed-accuracy trade-off functions enabled estimation of the rate of visual information processing in a task with a single stimulus (Experiment 1), distracting stimuli (Experiment 2) or two stimuli with the target being post cued on stimulus offset (Experiment 3). Older adults displayed a deficit in visual information processing only when interfering items were present, suggesting difficulties with inhibiting distracting items and encoding and maintaining multiple distinct object representations.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 10 Apr 2013 |
Event | Experimental Psychology Society: Lancaster Meeting - Lancaster, United Kingdom Duration: 10 Apr 2013 → 12 Apr 2013 |
Conference
Conference | Experimental Psychology Society |
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Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Lancaster |
Period | 10/04/13 → 12/04/13 |
Keywords
- ageing
- psychophysical processing speed
- speed-accuracy tradeoff methodology
- task performance