Younger and older adults demonstrate similar ability to focus attention when listening to signals in noise

Authors

  • Dana R. Murphy Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ont. L5L 1C6, Canada
  • Filippo Speranza Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ont. L5L 1C6, Canada
  • Giampaolo Moraglia Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ont. L5L 1C6, Canada
  • Bruce Schneider Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ont. L5L 1C6, Canada

Keywords:

Acoustic noise, Interpolation, Signal detection, Cognitive aging, Low intensity signals, Signal frequencies

Abstract

Younger and older adults demonstrate a similar ability to focus attention in order to improve their ability to detect pure tones presented in noise. Both age groups show a very narrow band of attentional focus to improve detection. The differences between the age groups in terms of inhibitory functioning are either smaller than expected or that the inhibitory functioning of the older adults remains intact for such simple auditory stimuli. Complicated stimuli do not lend themselves to the same sort of selective analysis in noisy situations. Older adults, despite their ability to narrowly focus attention when processing simple stimuli find it difficult to narrow their focus when complex stimuli are employed and multiple frequency regions are monitored.

Additional Files

Published

2000-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Murphy DR, Speranza F, Moraglia G, Schneider B. Younger and older adults demonstrate similar ability to focus attention when listening to signals in noise. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2000 Sep. 1 [cited 2024 Nov. 7];28(3):130-1. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/1323

Issue

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada