PREDICTING AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN VISUAL INFORMATION-PROCESSING USING A 2-STAGE QUEUING MODEL

Recent work on age-related differences in some types of visual informa tion processing has qualitatively stated that younger adults are able to develop parallel processing capability, while older adults remain s erial processors. A mathematical model based on queuing theory was use d to quantitatively predict and parameterize age-related differences i n the perceptual encoding and central decision-making aspects of a mul tiple-frame search task. Statistical results indicated main effects fo r frame duration, display load, age group, and session of practice. Co mparison of the full model and a restricted model indicated an efficie nt contribution of the encoding speed parameter. The best-fitting para meter set indicated that (1) younger participants processed task infor mation with a two-channel parallel system, while older participants we re serial processors; and (2) perceptual encoding had a large impact o n age-related differences in task performance. Results are discussed w ith implications for human factors design principles.