The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan
Abstract Visuospatial processing speed underlies several cognitive functions critical for successful completion of everyday tasks, including driving and walking. While it is widely accepted that visuospatial processing speed peaks in early adulthood, performance across the lifespan remains incomplet...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Cognitive Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-023-00504-y |
| _version_ | 1797454150841139200 |
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| author | Courtney Aul Julia M. Brau Alexander Sugarman Joseph M. DeGutis Laura T. Germine Michael Esterman Regina E. McGlinchey Francesca C. Fortenbaugh |
| author_facet | Courtney Aul Julia M. Brau Alexander Sugarman Joseph M. DeGutis Laura T. Germine Michael Esterman Regina E. McGlinchey Francesca C. Fortenbaugh |
| author_sort | Courtney Aul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Visuospatial processing speed underlies several cognitive functions critical for successful completion of everyday tasks, including driving and walking. While it is widely accepted that visuospatial processing speed peaks in early adulthood, performance across the lifespan remains incompletely characterized. Additionally, there remains a lack of paradigms available to assess visuospatial processing speed in unsupervised web-based testing environments. To address these gaps, we developed a novel visuospatial processing speed (VIPS) task adapted from two tests sensitive to visuospatial processing speed declines in older adults, the Useful Field of View paradigm and the PERformance CEntered Portable Test. The VIPS task requires participants to make a central orientation discrimination and complete a simultaneous peripheral visual search task. Data were collected from 86 in-lab volunteers (18–30 years) to compare performance to traditional neuropsychological measures. Consistent with previous literature, performance on the novel VIPS task significantly correlated with measures of selective attention, executive functioning, visual speed, and working memory. An additional 4395 volunteers (12–62 years) were recruited on TestMyBrain.org to establish lifespan trajectories of visuospatial processing speed and associations with functional disability. VIPS task performance peaked in the early 20’s, and steadily decreased such that thresholds doubled in 60-year-olds relative to 20-year-olds (817 ms vs. 412 ms). VIPS task performance significantly correlated with self-reported cognitive functioning deficits broadly across the lifespan but was specifically related to mobility issues in middle-age. These findings have important implications for early detection of cognitive decline and provide insights into potential early intervention targets for younger and middle-aged adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:33:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5945d6becd2b4816b26924a231245131 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2365-7464 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:33:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cognitive Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5945d6becd2b4816b26924a2312451312023-11-26T12:08:25ZengSpringerOpenCognitive Research2365-74642023-08-018111910.1186/s41235-023-00504-yThe functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespanCourtney Aul0Julia M. Brau1Alexander Sugarman2Joseph M. DeGutis3Laura T. Germine4Michael Esterman5Regina E. McGlinchey6Francesca C. Fortenbaugh7Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory (BALLAB), VA Boston Healthcare SystemBoston Attention and Learning Laboratory (BALLAB), VA Boston Healthcare SystemTranslational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), VA Boston Healthcare SystemBoston Attention and Learning Laboratory (BALLAB), VA Boston Healthcare SystemDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical SchoolBoston Attention and Learning Laboratory (BALLAB), VA Boston Healthcare SystemTranslational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), VA Boston Healthcare SystemTranslational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), VA Boston Healthcare SystemAbstract Visuospatial processing speed underlies several cognitive functions critical for successful completion of everyday tasks, including driving and walking. While it is widely accepted that visuospatial processing speed peaks in early adulthood, performance across the lifespan remains incompletely characterized. Additionally, there remains a lack of paradigms available to assess visuospatial processing speed in unsupervised web-based testing environments. To address these gaps, we developed a novel visuospatial processing speed (VIPS) task adapted from two tests sensitive to visuospatial processing speed declines in older adults, the Useful Field of View paradigm and the PERformance CEntered Portable Test. The VIPS task requires participants to make a central orientation discrimination and complete a simultaneous peripheral visual search task. Data were collected from 86 in-lab volunteers (18–30 years) to compare performance to traditional neuropsychological measures. Consistent with previous literature, performance on the novel VIPS task significantly correlated with measures of selective attention, executive functioning, visual speed, and working memory. An additional 4395 volunteers (12–62 years) were recruited on TestMyBrain.org to establish lifespan trajectories of visuospatial processing speed and associations with functional disability. VIPS task performance peaked in the early 20’s, and steadily decreased such that thresholds doubled in 60-year-olds relative to 20-year-olds (817 ms vs. 412 ms). VIPS task performance significantly correlated with self-reported cognitive functioning deficits broadly across the lifespan but was specifically related to mobility issues in middle-age. These findings have important implications for early detection of cognitive decline and provide insights into potential early intervention targets for younger and middle-aged adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-023-00504-yVisual speed of processingVisual attentionLifespan trajectoriesFunctional disabilityVIPS task |
| spellingShingle | Courtney Aul Julia M. Brau Alexander Sugarman Joseph M. DeGutis Laura T. Germine Michael Esterman Regina E. McGlinchey Francesca C. Fortenbaugh The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan Cognitive Research Visual speed of processing Visual attention Lifespan trajectories Functional disability VIPS task |
| title | The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan |
| title_full | The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan |
| title_fullStr | The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan |
| title_full_unstemmed | The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan |
| title_short | The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan |
| title_sort | functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan |
| topic | Visual speed of processing Visual attention Lifespan trajectories Functional disability VIPS task |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-023-00504-y |
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