The Effects of Noise and Time of Day upon Age Differences in Performance at Two Checking Tasks

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Abstract
Forty older (age range 65-72 yr) and 40 younger subjects (age range 18-31 yr) performed a 15min cancellation task and. a 20 min version of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT). They worked either in noise (95 dBA) or quiet (70 dBA) and either in the morning (10 a.m.) or the afternoon (2 p.m.) In the cancellation task older subjects worked significantly more slowly and significantly less accurately than younger ones. However, noise significantly improved the rate of work for older subjects, but not younger ones, without impairing accuracy. Older subjects, but not younger ones, also were significantly more accurate in the afternoon. The performance of older subjects on the CPT was significantly interior to that of younger subjects. Afternoon testing again improved the performance of older subjects to a greater extent, Relationships between speed and accuracy measures, between performance and verbal intelligence and between performance and sociability were also assessed. The results of the two studies are discussed in terms of possible age differences in arousability.

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