Selective Attention (SA) and Perceptual Inhibition (PI) Throughout the Lifespan

INTROZZI, M. I; LÓPEZ RAMÓN, M.F; GARCÍA, M. J; ZAMORA, E.V; MUSSO, M.; RICHARD´S, M.

Journal of Cognition and Development

Routledge

Año: 2024 p. 1 - 20

1524-8372

The aim of this study was to analyze the development of Perceptual Inhibition (PI) and Selective Visual Attention (SVA) throughout life, identifying key moments of change in the direction of development. A total of 810 subjects participated, ranging from 6 to 80 years. The results revealed that PI and SVA followed similar developmental patterns, characterized by a linear function with three phases and two significant transition zones. The first phase spanned from childhood to early adolescence, showing a rapid and constant improvement in PI and SVA efficiency until 11 and 13 years, respectively. Subsequently, they entered a second, more extensive phase characterized by stability with a slight decline, lasting approximately 40 years. In older adults another transition was identified, with a progressive decline until 80 years. It is important to note that the rate of decline in older adults was much slower than the rapid improvement observed in childhood and adolescence, indicating that the decline in older adults was not a reverse reflection of early development. Regarding PI, it showed continuous improvement from 6 to 11 years, reaching levels of efficiency similar to young adults. On the other hand, SVA also experienced a rapid, linear, and progressive improvement from 6 years, but the first transition in the change of direction was registered at 13 years. In summary, this study highlighted that both PI and SVA followed non-symmetrical developmental patterns, with rapid early improvements in childhood and adolescence, and a slower decline in older adults.