Wheatley Dana M, Scialfa Charles T, Boot Walter, Kramer Arthur, Alexander Amy
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Exp Aging Res. 2012;38(1):110-29. doi: 10.1080/0361073X.2012.637018.
BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: We are often required to carry out complex tasks in changing, context-dependent ways. This task switching requires the rapid realignment of attention to task constraints and may be age sensitive.
Three experiments, two in which eye movements were recorded, were conducted to assess age-related differences in task switching and inhibitory control. Observers carried out a Same-Different task and Go-No Go task in single and mixed blocks of trials.
Other than Experiment 1, although switch costs were observed, they were not larger for older adults compared to younger adults. Furthermore, eye movement and false alarm data demonstrated little evidence of age-related decline in inhibitory and oculomotor control.
A major implication is that, at least when two tasks involve different stimuli and unique responses, older adults are no more likely than younger adults to show task-switching costs or inhibition deficit.
背景/研究背景：我们常常需要以依赖情境变化的方式执行复杂任务。这种任务切换需要注意力迅速重新调整以适应任务限制，并且可能对年龄敏感。
进行了三项实验，其中两项记录了眼动，以评估任务切换和抑制控制方面与年龄相关的差异。观察者在单组和混合组试验中执行相同-不同任务和Go-No Go任务。
除实验1外，尽管观察到了切换成本，但与年轻人相比，老年人的切换成本并不更高。此外，眼动和虚报数据几乎没有显示出抑制和眼动控制方面与年龄相关的下降迹象。
一个主要的启示是，至少当两项任务涉及不同刺激和独特反应时，老年人与年轻人相比，出现任务切换成本或抑制缺陷的可能性并不更高。
