Reaction Time Effects of Related and Unrelated Visual and Auditory Semantic Distraction on Picture Identification in Younger and Older Adults

Models for understanding effects of distraction on linguistic processing are few. We measured semantically related and unrelated visual and auditory ambient distraction on picture identification in non-neurologically damaged younger and older adults. Comparisons were made across conditions of quiet, white noise, visual, and auditory distraction for categories of sports and vegetables. The effect of semantic relatedness varied according to modality of distraction. Visual distraction of semantically related targets hindered performance more than unrelated visual distraction. Both groups performed slower during distraction compared to quiet. Older adults demonstrated significantly longer reaction times during conditions of either auditory or visual distraction