Age-Related Deficits on the Trail-Making Test Part A: Separating Specific Deficits of Visual Search from Generalized Sensorimotor Slowing

摘要: Trail-Making Test part A (TMT-A) is sensitive to the speed of perceptual processing, motor programming and proficiency visual search. Here we explore why, in previous work, performance on TMT-A was found decay old age. We (1) distangle contribution search from that basic perceptuo-motor processing by implementing a control version TMT which minimized, (2) investigate role task experience embedding context models daily workplace activities some but not other participants (3) age deficits at level eye movements. Ten young adults (YA), ten older without (OA), as well with (OE) participated barcode scanning numbered "parcels" had be scanned ascending order. The were placed regular, easily predicable order for TMT-C, mixed an unspeeded speeded TMT-A. no group differences completion time gaze pattern TMT-C. Completion increased changed accordingly TMT-A, changes more pronounced OA OE compared YA. Specifically, persons longer time, their took move one parcel next, didn't rest parcel. differential effects versus provide converging evidence age-related slowing related specific search, generalized sensorimotor processing. Slowing modified instructions (speeded unspeeded), nor decades work-related similar task.