Effects of age on performance in a finger-precuing task

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1998 Jun;24(3):870-83. doi: 10.1037//0096-1523.24.3.870.

Abstract

This study investigated age-related precuing effects in the finger-precuing task (J. Miller, 1982). In this task, a spatial precue provides partial advance information about which fingers to use for responding. Results indicated a substantial age-related deficit in preparing 2 fingers on 2 hands, but not on 1 hand. This disparate set of findings does not provide strong support for A. A. Hartley's (1993) hypothesis that anterior brain attention systems responsible for selection-for-action are compromised with advancing age. Finally, the authors report that advancing age increasingly slows reaction time more to the inner than to the outer stimulus-response positions. A possible mechanism of this age-related bowed stimulus-response position effect is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Space Perception / physiology*