Age-related differences in complex monitoring performance.

PDFTech ReportFAA-AM-81-12DOT/FAA/AM-81/12Radar air traffic controlAgeAttentionVigilanceAlertnessFatigue (Physiological condition)Eye movementsGalvanic skin responseHuman subject testingPerformancePerformance measurementUnited StatesCivil Aerospace Medical InstituteThackray, Richard I.Touchstone, R. MarkCivil Aeromedical InstituteUnited States. Office of Aviation MedicineNTL-AVIATION-Air Traffic ControlNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Human FactorsUS Transportation CollectionThe present study examined the effect of age on the ability to sustain attention to a complex monitoring task. The visual display was designed to resemble an air traffic control radar display containing alphanumeric symbols. Subjects in age groups 18-29, 40-50, and 60-70 years were tested over a 2-hour session. Sixteen symbols appeared on the screen at all times, with 10 critical stimuli (a designated change in the alphanumerics) occurring during each half-hour.Performance decrement was significantly related to age, with performance declining earlier in the session in the oldest group of subjects. Recordings of eye movement activity, skin conductance level, and subjective assessments of fatigue, boredom, monotony, and attentiveness generally failed to reveal any clear reasons for the greater performance decrement of older subjects. Possible directions for further research are discussed