Watson, Derrick G., Maylor, Elizabeth A. and Bruce, Lucy A. M.. (2005) Search, enumeration, and aging : eye movement requirements cause age-equivalent performance in enumeration but not in search tasks. Psychology and Aging, Vol.20 (No.2). pp. 226-240. ISSN 0882-7974

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Abstract

Response time (RT) and fixation frequency were measured for young and older adults in search and enumeration tasks under high- and low-attentional competition conditions. There was an age-related decrement in search rates for single targets both for RT and fixation frequency, but there was no deficit in enumeration rates either with or without distractors even though serial enumeration rates were much slower than single target search rates. Fixation frequency per item in serial enumeration was much greater than in serial visual search for a single target. Enumerating targets with distractors produced an overall increase in RT and fixation frequency that was greater for older adults. The data are contrary to a generalized slowing account, and an alternative is proposed on the basis of the need to make eye movements in enumeration but not in search tasks.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Visual perception, Eye — Movements, Human information processing -- Age factors , Cognition — Age factors, Ability, Influence of age on, Reaction time
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychology and Aging
Publisher:	American Psychological Association/Educational Publishing Foundation
ISSN:	0882-7974
Date:	June 2005
Volume:	Vol.20
Number:	No.2
Number of Pages:	15
Page Range:	pp. 226-240
Identification Number:	10.1037/0882-7974.20.2.226
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	R000239180 (ESRC)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/6810

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