Impact of simulated visual impairment on the cognitive test performance of young adults
Authors: Wood, Joanne M.1; Chaparro, Alex2; Anstey, Kaarin J.3; Hsing, Y. Eve1; Johnsson, Alexia K.1; Morse, Anna L.1; Wainwright, Sara E.1
Source: British Journal of Psychology, Volume 100, Number 3, August 2009 , pp. 593-602(10)
Publisher: British Psychological Society
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Abstract:
Aims: This study investigated the effect of simulated visual impairment on the speed and accuracy of performance on a series of commonly used cognitive tests. Methods: Cognitive performance was assessed for 30 young, visually normal subjects (M = 22.0 ± 3.1 years) using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and the Stroop Colour Word Test under three visual conditions: normal vision and two levels of visually degrading filters (VistechTM) administered in a random order. Distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were also assessed for each filter condition. Results: The visual filters, which degraded contrast sensitivity to a greater extent than visual acuity, significantly increased the time to complete (p <.05), but not the number of errors made, on the DSST and the TMT A and B and affected only some components of the Stroop test. Conclusions: Reduced contrast sensitivity had a marked effect on the speed but not the accuracy of performance on commonly used cognitive tests, even in young individuals; the implications of these findings are discussed.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1348/000712608X374723
Affiliations: 1: School of Optometry and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia 2: Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA 3: Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Click here for Page Help