Despite the inevitability of aging and the importance of vision to individual well being, the visual changes that occur in older persons are poorly understood. The major goal of this application is to better equip the author to contribute significantly to the more basic aspects of this important but neglected area of visual science.
The aims of the proposed research are to discover the extent to which aging alters the basic processes of lateral inhibition and visual channel function, to determine the impact of such changes on visual function and to evaluate a proposed """"""""transient/sustained shift"""""""" hypothesis of visual aging. The studies in Part I are designed to: (1) determine if an age-related """"""""shift"""""""" from """"""""transient"""""""" to """"""""sustained"""""""" channel functioning can explain losses in temporal resolution, spatial discrimination and response speed and relatedly, (2) to model visual aging through selective desensitization of the different visual channels by manipulation of the stimulus parameters to which they are differentially sensitive (e.g., spatial frequency, drift rate, flicker). In Part II the effects of age on the fundamental process of lateral inhibition will be determined by an age comparison of: (1) the luminance compensation required to offset lateral inhibition-induced simultaneous contrast effects, (2) the strength of Mach bands using Von Bekesy's compensation technique, (3) the temporal development of Craik/O'Brien contour enhancement using a novel peripheral masking procedure and (4) the strength of the Craik/O'Brien effect using a specially developed contour-based brightness matching procedure. The long-term objectives of this proposal are to advance our understanding of the effects of aging on basic visual processes, to expand the data base for the development of effective age-appropriate visual tests and to develop a broad and systematic theory to guide future research into visual aging.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
5K04AG000199-03
Application #
3070429
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1984-06-01
Project End
1987-05-31
Budget Start
1986-06-01
Budget End
1987-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Notre Dame
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
824910376
City
Notre Dame
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46556
Kosnik, W D; Sekuler, R; Kline, D W (1990) Self-reported visual problems of older drivers. Hum Factors 32:597-608
Kosnik, W; Winslow, L; Kline, D et al. (1988) Visual changes in daily life throughout adulthood. J Gerontol 43:P63-70
Scialfa, C T; Kline, D W (1988) Effects of noise type and retinal eccentricity on age differences in identification and localization. J Gerontol 43:P91-9
Kline, D W (1987) Ageing and the spatiotemporal discrimination performance of the visual system. Eye (Lond) 1 ( Pt 2):323-9
Scialfa, C T; Kline, D W; Lyman, B J (1987) Age differences in target identification as a function of retinal location and noise level: examination of the useful field of view. Psychol Aging 2:14-9