Saccade dynamics during an online updating task change with healthy aging

Abstract

Goal-directed movements rely on the integration of both visual and motor information, especially during the online control of movement, to fluidly and flexibly control coordinated action. Eye-hand coordination typically plays an important role in goal-directed movements. As people age, various aspects of motor control and visual performance decline (Haegerstrom-Portnoy, Schneck, & Brabyn, 1999; Seidler et al., 2010), including an increase in saccade latencies (Munoz, Broughton, Goldring, & Armstrong, 1998). However, there is limited insight into how age-related changes in saccadic performance impact eye-hand coordination during online control. We investigated this question through the use of a target perturbation paradigm. Older and younger participants completed a perturbation task where target perturbations could occur either early (0 ms) or later (200 ms) after reach onset. We analyzed reach correction latencies and the frequency of the reach correction, coupled with analyses of saccades across all stages of movement. Older participants had slower correction latencies and initiated corrections less frequently compared to younger participants, with this trend being exacerbated in the later (200 ms) target perturbation condition. Older participants also produced slower saccade latencies toward both the initial target and the perturbed target. For trials in which a correction occurred to a late perturbation, touch responses were more accurate when there was more time between the saccade landing and the touch. Altogether, our results suggest that these age-related effects may be due to the delayed acquisition of visual and oculomotor information used to inform the reaching movement, stemming from the increase in saccade latencies before and after target perturbation.

Age effects on predictive eye movements for action

“…For example, when interacting with the touchscreen of a train ticket machine people direct their gaze to the virtual button that indicates their desired destination, and then move their hand to that button. Humans are known to shift their gaze toward where they will act next ( de la Malla, Rushton, Clark, Smeets, & Brenner, 2019 ; Mennie, Hayhoe, & Sullivan, 2006 ; Land, 2009 ; O'Rielly & Ma-Wyatt, 2020 ; Voudouris, Smeets, Fiehler, & Brenner, 2018 ), so if the ticket machine proceeds rather slowly, experienced travelers may anticipate where the next relevant virtual button will appear and direct their gaze, and even their hand, to that location. Such voluntary anticipation could allow a faster selection than simply reacting to the target appearing in the visual periphery ( Thomas, Gallagher, & Purvis, 1981 ; Mennie et al, 2006 ; Kowler, Rubinstein, Santos, & Wang, 2019 ; but see also Ryu, Abernethy, Mann, Poolton, & Gorman, 2013 ).…”

“…At the same time, movements become slower and more variable ( Seidler et al, 2010 ) and more susceptible to influences from the surroundings ( de Dieuleveult, Brouwer, Siemonsma, Van Erp, & Brenner, 2018 ). Older adults have longer eye movement latencies ( O'Rielly & Ma-Wyatt, 2020 ), larger fixation errors ( Peltsch, Hemraj, Garcia, & Munoz, 2011 ), poorer contrast sensitivity ( Oswley, 2016 ), and a reduced field of view ( Ball, Beard, Roenker, Miller, & Griggs, 1988 ). One way to compensate for such sensorimotor compromises might be to rely more on predictive processes.…”

Effects of Astaxanthin, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin on Eye–Hand Coordination and Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movement after Visual Display Terminal Operation in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Intergroup Trial

“…Conversely, disruption to eye-–hand coordination and smooth-pursuit eye movement due to aging [ 6 , 7 ], disease [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], injury [ 11 ], and developmental disorders [ 12 ] leads to considerable degeneration in the productivity and quality of life (QOL). VDT operation is considered to disrupt eye–hand coordination and smooth-pursuit eye movement because the VDT operation is attributed to a decline in accommodation and oculomotor function, which are related to eye–hand coordination and smooth-pursuit eye movement.…”