Age-Related Changes in Visual Processing Speed

Location

Guzman 114, Dominican University of California

Start Date

4-20-2017 1:40 PM

End Date

4-20-2017 1:55 PM

Student Type

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor(s)

Kitsum Li, OTD, OTR/L, CSRS

Presentation Format

Oral Presentation

Abstract/Description

Driving is an activity that many people associate with independence. However, as individuals age, driving safety may become compromised. Evidence reveals that adults over the age of 70 years are at a significantly increased risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. To help prevent older adults’ involvement in motor vehicle accidents, driving assessments can be used to determine if an older adult possesses the skills required to drive safely. Occupational therapists use pre-driving assessments to evaluate cognition, vision, visual perception, and reaction time. The Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-Third Edition (MVPT-3) is commonly used to assess visual perception ability, which is the ability to transform or interpret visual information, in a pre-driving assessment. The MVPT-3 also includes a Response Time Index to measure the speed at which an individual can make a correct interpretation about a visual stimulus, which is known as the visual processing speed. The MVPT-3 Response Time Index reveals that adults over the age of 70 years exhibit a noticeable decrease in response time, which may impact driving safety. The newer version of the MVPT-3, the MVPT-4, was released in 2015, but does not yet include a Response Time Index. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore if the MVPT-4 can detect differences in visual processing speed between younger adults and older adults. The researchers will use a cross-sectional design with convenient samples of younger adults aged 20-35 years and older adults age 70 years or older. The younger adults’ response times will be compared to the older adults’ response times. If the MVPT-4 is shown to be sensitive in detecting age-related changes in response time, occupational therapists may be able to use the MVPT-4 in pre-driving assessments in the future.

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Apr 20th, 1:40 PM Apr 20th, 1:55 PM

Age-Related Changes in Visual Processing Speed

Guzman 114, Dominican University of California

Driving is an activity that many people associate with independence. However, as individuals age, driving safety may become compromised. Evidence reveals that adults over the age of 70 years are at a significantly increased risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. To help prevent older adults’ involvement in motor vehicle accidents, driving assessments can be used to determine if an older adult possesses the skills required to drive safely. Occupational therapists use pre-driving assessments to evaluate cognition, vision, visual perception, and reaction time. The Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-Third Edition (MVPT-3) is commonly used to assess visual perception ability, which is the ability to transform or interpret visual information, in a pre-driving assessment. The MVPT-3 also includes a Response Time Index to measure the speed at which an individual can make a correct interpretation about a visual stimulus, which is known as the visual processing speed. The MVPT-3 Response Time Index reveals that adults over the age of 70 years exhibit a noticeable decrease in response time, which may impact driving safety. The newer version of the MVPT-3, the MVPT-4, was released in 2015, but does not yet include a Response Time Index. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore if the MVPT-4 can detect differences in visual processing speed between younger adults and older adults. The researchers will use a cross-sectional design with convenient samples of younger adults aged 20-35 years and older adults age 70 years or older. The younger adults’ response times will be compared to the older adults’ response times. If the MVPT-4 is shown to be sensitive in detecting age-related changes in response time, occupational therapists may be able to use the MVPT-4 in pre-driving assessments in the future.