The effects of distraction on smooth pursuit in normal subjects. 1986

S R Kaufman, and L A Abel

Smooth pursuit eye movements made in response to 5 and 20% targets were studied in young and old subjects. Tracking of a target was carried out both with no competing stimuli and while auditory and visual distractions were presented. Only tracking the target against a projected background significantly impaired pursuit. It did so in both age groups, by reducing pursuit gain and also by eliciting 'anticipatory saccades', which took the eyes ahead of the target to a new fixation point for 0.5 s or longer. Elderly subjects showed a significantly greater number of such interruptions, however, suggesting that continuous performance of the tracking task could be more readily disrupted in this group. These findings may arise from changes in the way in which elderly individuals process incoming sensory information.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011698 Pursuit, Smooth Eye movements that are slow, continuous, and conjugate and occur when a fixed object is moved slowly. Pursuits, Smooth,Smooth Pursuit,Smooth Pursuits
D012016 Reference Values The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality. Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D003071 Cognition Intellectual or mental process whereby an organism obtains knowledge. Cognitive Function,Cognitions,Cognitive Functions,Function, Cognitive,Functions, Cognitive
D005133 Eye Movements Voluntary or reflex-controlled movements of the eye. Eye Movement,Movement, Eye,Movements, Eye
D005260 Female Females
D006309 Hearing The ability or act of sensing and transducing ACOUSTIC STIMULATION to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. It is also called audition. Audition
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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