Age differences in perceptual style, selective attention, and perceptual-motor reaction time.

One hundred seventy-five females ranging in age from 17 to 72 years, who were placed into one of seven age groups, were administered tasks measuring perceptual style, selective attention, simple choice, and complex reaction time. Multivariate and univariate analysis indicated there were significant differences between the age groups for all dependent measures. Trends manifest in the data suggest significant declines on the investigated information-processing ability measures begin in the late-40's. This finding appears to indicate an over-all general decline on all information-processing variables rather than selective drop-out of abilities. Theoretical and applied implications of the results are discussed.