Age‐related change of location‐based visual selectivity depending on conflict frequency

Age‐related change in cognitive control for visual selectivity was examined using a conflict adaptation effect (CAE). The CAE reflects an increased stimulus compatibility effect for low levels of conflict frequency within blocks of trials. Younger (n = 20) and elderly (n = 20) adults received an Eriksen‐type flanker task involving compatible (e.g., “44444”) or incompatible (e.g., “44644”) arrays presented to either the left or right visual field (VF). The participants identified the central digit of an array. Relative frequency of conflict (incompatible) trials varied as a function of the VF. Also manipulated was the presentation order of more‐conflict VF and less‐conflict VF conditions over trial blocks. The results showed that a location‐based CAE appeared for both age groups in the first set of trial blocks, whereas in the final set of trial blocks the location‐based CAE appeared only for the younger adults. These results suggested that cognitive flexibility related to context‐dependent cognitive control diminishes with age.