Perceptual-motor adaptability of older adults (65 and older) was assessed. Participants in two groups (younger, 20-36 years, and older, 67-87 years) pointed 100 times at a straight-ahead visual target while looking through laterally displacing prisms, with the hand visible early in the pointing movement. Aftereffect tests were administered after adaptation. Each group was then split into decay and re-adaptation subgroups in which respective treatments were given twice. After each treatment, aftereffect tests were re-administered. Eye-hand total shift was significantly smaller for older participants, proprioceptive shift was not statistically smaller for older participants, and visual shift did not appear. Re-adaptation produced greater reduction in aftereffects than did decay; this effect was the same for both groups. The main conclusion is that perceptual-motor adaptability declines with advancing age. (Author/publisher)
Abstract