Impact of simulated visual impairment on the cognitive test performance of young adults |
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| Authors: | Joanne M. Wood Alex Chaparro Kaarin J. Anstey Y. Eve Hsing Alexia K. Johnsson Anna L. Morse Sara E. Wainwright |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Optometry and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia;2. Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA;3. Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia |
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| 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=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. |
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