The Automated Psychophysical Test (APT) for assessing age-diminished capabilities

In this report we describe a computer-based psychophysical test that can assess capabilities that have been shown through research to be related to both age and automobile accidents. The test operates with a standard personal computer. To facilitate its use with an elderly population, instructions are given aurally by means of a sound card as the exercises are demonstrated. Responses are registered with a joystick; the direction of the joystick’s motion corresponds to the direction or location of stimuli on the screen to obviate the learning of response codes. The sys-tem is currently being used to study the diminished capabilities of elderly drivers who have been referred to a state licensing agency because of deficient driving behavior.