The Use of Vision in Manual Aiming by Young and Older Adults

This study was designed to examine the influence of age and the availability of vision on the performance and kinematic characteristics of discrete aiming movements. Twelve young adults (19–25 years old) and 12 healthy older adults (62–82 years old) performed 130-mm aiming movements to targets with diameters of 5, 10, and 20 mm. On half the trial blocks, visual feedback about the aiming movement was eliminated upon movement initiation. Surprisingly, older adults were both as fast and as accurate as young adults regardless of the vision or target condition. While the velocity profiles of young and older adults were also similar, older adults exhibited a greater number of deviations in acceleration in both the vision and no-vision situations. Since these deviations are thought to reflect adjustments to the movement trajectory, older adults may rely more on visual and kinesthetic feedback for the control of goal-directed movement.

[1]  G. Stelmach,et al.  Age-Related Differences in a Kinematic Analysis of Precued Movements , 1990, Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement.

[2]  Romeo Chua,et al.  Discrete vs. continuous visual control of manual aiming , 1991 .

[3]  P M Rabbitt,et al.  Response times to stimuli of increasing complexity as a function of ageing. , 1977, British journal of psychology.

[4]  J. Pratt,et al.  Rapid aimed limb movements: age differences and practice effects in component submovements. , 1994, Psychology and aging.

[5]  G. L. Soderberg,et al.  Alteration of motor-unit discharge characteristics in aged humans. , 1984, Physical therapy.

[6]  J. Mattingley,et al.  Age-related motor slowness: simply strategic? , 1994, Journal of gerontology.

[7]  J. Cooke,et al.  Control of simple arm movements in elderly humans , 1989, Neurobiology of Aging.

[8]  P. Fitts,et al.  INFORMATION CAPACITY OF DISCRETE MOTOR RESPONSES. , 1964, Journal of experimental psychology.

[9]  M. Gessaroli,et al.  The Analysis of Repeated Measures Designs Involving Multiple Dependent Variables , 1987 .

[10]  R. Emmerson,et al.  Physical Activity, Age, and Cognitive- Neuropsychological Function , 1994 .

[11]  D. Elliott,et al.  Visual regulation of manual aiming , 1993 .

[12]  P. Fitts.  The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement. , 1954, Journal of experimental psychology.

[13]  N L Goggin,et al.  Age-related differences in the control of spatial aiming movements. , 1992, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[14]  A. H. Norris,et al.  Speed and accuracy of movement and their changes with age. , 1969, Acta psychologica.

[15]  I Biederman,et al.  Effects of Age and Sex on Reciprocal Tapping Performance , 1990, Perceptual and motor skills.

[16]  J. Cerella.  Information processing rates in the elderly. , 1985, Psychological bulletin.

[17]  K. Murrell,et al.  Age Differences in Movement Pattern , 1960, Nature.

[18]  J. Cooke,et al.  Kinematics of arm movements in elderly humans , 1989, Neurobiology of Aging.

[19]  T. Salthouse,et al.  Adult age and the speed-accuracy trade-off. , 1979, Ergonomics.

[20]  I. Franks,et al.  The effects of changing movement velocity and complexity on response preparation: evidence from latency, kinematic, and EMG measures , 2004, Experimental Brain Research.

[21]  H. Noda,et al.  Effect of aging on sensorimotor functions of eye and hand movements , 1986, Experimental Neurology.