Information processing limits: the effects of information load and age.

Abstract

As a test of the effects of age and information load Ss performed a visual and auditory discrimination task under conditions requiring division of attention. Amount of stimulus information was determined by the number of stimulus alternatives which could occur in a set of trials. Performance by 12 Ss over age 40 was impaired in comparison to 12Ss under age 40. Performance for all Ss was a function of amount of information, but there was no Age X Information Load interaction. It has been reported in the literature that age-related performance decrements are correlated with task complexity. These data indicate that amount of information is not a critical dimension of task complexity as it contributes to age-related performance deficits.