Age as a Factor in Combined Manual and Decision Tasks

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the variation in speed of performance and decision making ability with age. The task performed involved decision making, hand movement, and positioning elements. The effects of age on decision and movement time were examined when information load, distance of move, and radial clearance (target width) were varied. In addition, heart rate was also monitored. Significant differences were detected in both decision and movement time for different levels of information load, distance of move, and radial clearance between the older (52 to 63 years) and younger (18 to 29 years) groups of subjects. Decision time differences between the two groups increased at higher levels of information load. The relationship between movement time and index of difficulty suggested that the older worker tends to exhibit a “start-up” lag in exercising movement control. Performance errors indicated that the slowing among the older workers was not observed at the expense of accuracy. The study provided no evidence that age has an effect on heart rate variability under different levels of information load and task difficulty.