Linear age-correlated development of inhibitory saccadic trajectory deviations.

Abstract

The present study examined development-related differences in saccade curvature during a goal-directed saccade task in the presence of distracting visual information. Participants were individuals who ranged in age from 6 to 30 years. Consistent with previous findings, all participants showed curvature toward the distractor stimulus at shorter saccadic reaction times (SRTs). Chronological age, however, was positively related to participants' ability to inhibit distracting information as revealed by curvature away from the distractor stimulus at longer SRTs. Interestingly, no significant differences in saccadic reaction times were observed. Results are discussed in the context of similar findings comparing older and younger adults and the putative frontal neural mechanisms that contribute to the observed developmental effect. Our present results suggest that saccadic curvature can be used a tool to measure fontal-oculomotor control interaction across the life span and can be further used to examine inhibitory functioning in special pediatric populations (e.g., having brain trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, frontal epilepsy).

Age-Related Changes in Distractibility: Developmental Trajectory of Sustained Attention in ADHD

“…The current study provides further support for the association between healthy maturation and the increased ability to inhibit distracting information (Gumenyuk et al, 2001;West, Mendizabal, Carrière, & Lippé, 2014). A recent work by West et al (2014) showed a strong relation between participants' age (especially below 18 years old) and the degree of saccadic curvature away from the distractor stimulus. These results suggested that the increased development in frontally mediated inhibitory mechanisms is a significant factor contributing to the developmental trajectory slope.…”

“…A recent work by West et al (2014) showed a strong relation between participants' age (especially below 18 years old) and the degree of saccadic curvature away from the distractor stimulus. These results suggested that the increased development in frontally mediated inhibitory mechanisms is a significant factor contributing to the developmental trajectory slope.…”

Face Scanning in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Human Versus Dog Face Scanning

“…The study of behavioral and neurophysiological patterns related to visual attention is a promising research field to understand the modulation of attentional performance at different ages and in various neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders ( 1 , 2 ).…”