Fig 1.
Lights/sensors were placed in three zones. Zone 1 and 3 were marked red and green respectively and they were beyond reach for a person positioned at the center of the field. The middle zone was blue. The light sequence was different in the three trials, but all lights were equally represented. In trial 2 and trial 3, the color of the light indicated the position of the following light.
Fig 2.
The elderly were generally slower than the young in all trials, but both groups improved their performance (i.e. used shorter time) when they were provided with a leading cue. * p<0.05, ** p<0.001.
Fig 3.
The relative improvement in performance time was significantly different between groups and it was smaller in the group of elderly people. * p<0.001.
Table 1.
Performance time in three trials and improvements with respect to trials with a leading cue.
Fig 4.
Illustration of the difference in residual attentional capacity for a secondary (cognitive) task in relation to an automated and a non-automated primary (motor) task. (Modified from Abernethy 1988).