TY - JOUR

T1 - Aging changes 3D perception

T2 - Evidence for hemispheric rebalancing of lateralized processes

AU - Andrews, Bridget

AU - D-Avossa, Giovanni

AU - Sapir, Ayelet

PY - 2017/5

Y1 - 2017/5

N2 - When judging the 3D shape of a shaded image, young observers assume that the light source is placed above and to the left. This leftward bias has been attributed to hemispheric lateralization or experiential factors. Since aging is associated with loss of hemispheric lateralization, in the current study we measured the effect of aging on the assumed light source direction. Older participants exhibited, on average, a decreased left bias compared to young participants, as well as greater within-group variability in the distribution of assumed light source directions. In a separate sample of young and old participants, we replicated the age related effect in the assumed light source direction. Furthermore, in both young and old participants the assumed light source direction and the lateralized bias in a line bisection task were correlated. These findings suggest that diminished hemispheric lateralization, which accompanies aging, may affect the perception of the 3D structure of shaded surfaces. Shape from shading may thus provide a simple behavioral tool to track age related changes in hemispheric organization.

AB - When judging the 3D shape of a shaded image, young observers assume that the light source is placed above and to the left. This leftward bias has been attributed to hemispheric lateralization or experiential factors. Since aging is associated with loss of hemispheric lateralization, in the current study we measured the effect of aging on the assumed light source direction. Older participants exhibited, on average, a decreased left bias compared to young participants, as well as greater within-group variability in the distribution of assumed light source directions. In a separate sample of young and old participants, we replicated the age related effect in the assumed light source direction. Furthermore, in both young and old participants the assumed light source direction and the lateralized bias in a line bisection task were correlated. These findings suggest that diminished hemispheric lateralization, which accompanies aging, may affect the perception of the 3D structure of shaded surfaces. Shape from shading may thus provide a simple behavioral tool to track age related changes in hemispheric organization.

KW - Aging

KW - Perception

KW - Lateralization

KW - Vision

KW - Shape from shading

U2 - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.03.005

DO - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.03.005

M3 - Article

VL - 99

SP - 121

EP - 127

JO - Neuropsychologia

JF - Neuropsychologia

SN - 0028-3932

ER -