Impact of Simulated Visual Impairment on the Cognitive Test Performance of Young Adults

Joanne M. Wood; Alex Chaparro; Kaarin J. Anstey; Y. Eve Hsing; Alexia K. Johnsson; Anna L. Morse; Sara E. Wainwright

doi:10.1348/000712608X374723

Impact of Simulated Visual Impairment on the Cognitive Test Performance of Young Adults

Joanne M. Wood
, Alex Chaparro
, Kaarin J. Anstey
, Y. Eve Hsing
, Alexia K. Johnsson
, Anna L. Morse
, Sara E. Wainwright

Queensland University of Technology
Wichita State University
Australian National University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

   Aims  . This study investigated the effect of simulated visual impairment on the speed and accuracy of performance on a series of commonly used cognitive tests.
 
   Methods  . Cognitive performance was assessed for 30 young, visually normal subjects (M ¼ 22.0 ^ 3.1 years) using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and the Stroop Colour Word Test under three visual conditions: normal vision and two levels of visually degrading filters (VistechTM) administered in a random order. Distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were also assessed for each filter condition.
 
   Results  . The visual filters, which degraded contrast sensitivity to a greater extent than visual acuity, significantly increased the time to complete ( p , .05), but not the number of errors made, on the DSST and the TMT A and B and affected only some components of the Stroop test.
 
   Conclusions  . Reduced contrast sensitivity had a marked effect on the speed but not the accuracy of performance on commonly used cognitive tests, even in young individuals; the implications of these findings are discussed.

Original language	American English
Journal	British Journal of Psychology
Volume	100
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1348/000712608X374723
State	Published - Aug 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

visual impairment
cognitive testing
young adults
simulation
performance

Disciplines

Cognition and Perception
Cognitive Psychology

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10.1348/000712608X374723License: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Impact of Simulated Visual Impairment on the Cognitive Test Performance of Young Adults",

abstract = " Aims . This study investigated the effect of simulated visual impairment on the speed and accuracy of performance on a series of commonly used cognitive tests. Methods . Cognitive performance was assessed for 30 young, visually normal subjects (M ¼ 22.0 \textasciicircum{} 3.1 years) using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and the Stroop Colour Word Test under three visual conditions: normal vision and two levels of visually degrading filters (VistechTM) administered in a random order. Distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were also assessed for each filter condition. Results . The visual filters, which degraded contrast sensitivity to a greater extent than visual acuity, significantly increased the time to complete ( p , .05), but not the number of errors made, on the DSST and the TMT A and B and affected only some components of the Stroop test. Conclusions . Reduced contrast sensitivity had a marked effect on the speed but not the accuracy of performance on commonly used cognitive tests, even in young individuals; the implications of these findings are discussed.",

keywords = "visual impairment, cognitive testing, young adults, simulation, performance",

author = "Wood, \{Joanne M.\} and Alex Chaparro and Anstey, \{Kaarin J.\} and Hsing, \{Y. Eve\} and Johnsson, \{Alexia K.\} and Morse, \{Anna L.\} and Wainwright, \{Sara E.\}",

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year = "2009",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1348/000712608X374723",

language = "American English",

volume = "100",

journal = "British Journal of Psychology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of Simulated Visual Impairment on the Cognitive Test Performance of Young Adults

AU - Wood, Joanne M.

AU - Chaparro, Alex

AU - Anstey, Kaarin J.

AU - Hsing, Y. Eve

AU - Johnsson, Alexia K.

AU - Morse, Anna L.

AU - Wainwright, Sara E.

N1 - Enter your email address below. If your address has been previously registered, you will receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password. If you don't receive an email, you should register as a new user

PY - 2009/8

Y1 - 2009/8

N2 - Aims . This study investigated the effect of simulated visual impairment on the speed and accuracy of performance on a series of commonly used cognitive tests. Methods . Cognitive performance was assessed for 30 young, visually normal subjects (M ¼ 22.0 ^ 3.1 years) using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and the Stroop Colour Word Test under three visual conditions: normal vision and two levels of visually degrading filters (VistechTM) administered in a random order. Distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were also assessed for each filter condition. Results . The visual filters, which degraded contrast sensitivity to a greater extent than visual acuity, significantly increased the time to complete ( p , .05), but not the number of errors made, on the DSST and the TMT A and B and affected only some components of the Stroop test. Conclusions . Reduced contrast sensitivity had a marked effect on the speed but not the accuracy of performance on commonly used cognitive tests, even in young individuals; the implications of these findings are discussed.

AB - Aims . This study investigated the effect of simulated visual impairment on the speed and accuracy of performance on a series of commonly used cognitive tests. Methods . Cognitive performance was assessed for 30 young, visually normal subjects (M ¼ 22.0 ^ 3.1 years) using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and the Stroop Colour Word Test under three visual conditions: normal vision and two levels of visually degrading filters (VistechTM) administered in a random order. Distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were also assessed for each filter condition. Results . The visual filters, which degraded contrast sensitivity to a greater extent than visual acuity, significantly increased the time to complete ( p , .05), but not the number of errors made, on the DSST and the TMT A and B and affected only some components of the Stroop test. Conclusions . Reduced contrast sensitivity had a marked effect on the speed but not the accuracy of performance on commonly used cognitive tests, even in young individuals; the implications of these findings are discussed.

KW - visual impairment

KW - cognitive testing

KW - young adults

KW - simulation

KW - performance

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DO - 10.1348/000712608X374723

M3 - Article

SN - 1747-3470

VL - 100

JO - British Journal of Psychology

JF - British Journal of Psychology

ER -

Impact of Simulated Visual Impairment on the Cognitive Test Performance of Young Adults

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Keywords

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