Age related changes in functional field of view (FFOV): a comparison of young and older adults

Full description

This dataset contains 2 x text files of raw data; 2 x text files of data; 1 x excel spreadsheet (original) & 2 x CSV (preservation) files.


The data was collected to test whether differences in parallel processing efficiency explain age-related changes in the FFOV (functional field of view). The current work measured the workload capacity coefficient, C(t)OR, for targets appearing at various retinal eccentricities in young and older adults. Derived from analysis of response time distributions, C(t)OR gauges the efficiency with which observers process multiple items simultaneously relative to the rate at which they process items individually. Subjects performed a speeded target identification task, with targets appearing at varying retinal eccentricities and in the presence or absence of visual clutter.


Data description: Eight young adult participants(4 female, 4 male; mean age = 21.4 years, SD = 2.7; mean years of education = 14.8, SD = 2.6; mean corrected far acuity = 16/20, SD = 2.4; mean corrected near acuity = 20/20, SD = 0) and eight older adult participants (4 female, 4 male; mean age = 74.0 years, SD = 5.0; mean years of education = 13.6, SD = 1.9; mean corrected far acuity = 23.8/20, SD = 4.2; mean corrected near acuity = 23.8/20, SD = 7.0) performed a visual target identification task. Targets were coloured letters X or O that appeared at varying eccentricities (2.0°, 6.0°, or 10.0°) above or below a central fixation mark. Targets appeared either singly or redundantly (one each equal distances above and below fixation), and appeared either against an empty background or surrounded by grey clutter. Each participant contributed 5184 trials.


Dependent variables included response times (RTs) and error rates, along with measures of workload capacity, the efficiency of multiple-target processing. In addition to raw data (ASP_RawYoungData.txt,ASP_RawOlderData.txt), the files attached include,


• mean RT and error rate for each participant, calculated as a function of trial type (single-target vs. redundant-target), target eccentricity (near vs. middle vs. far), and display clutter (present vs. absent) (ASP_RT_ACC.txt);


• mean RT and error rate for each young adult participant, transformed to account for age-group differences in mean raw scores, calculated as a function of of trial type, target eccentricity, and display clutter (ASP_RT_ACC.txt);


• the raw workload capacity score, COR, for each participant, calculated as a function of time, target eccentricity, and display clutter(ASP_CtTimelines.xlsx);


• summary workload capacity scores, Cz, for each participant, calculated as a function of time, target eccentricity, and display clutter (ASP_Cz.txt).