Children's Performance on the Sustained Attention to Response Task: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Age-Related Changes.
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1
University of Melbourne, School of Psychological Sciences, Australia
The ability to sustain attention is critical for everyday functioning. In early childhood, it is linked to later cognitive abilities. The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) is a commonly used method of assessing sustained attention capabilities, however there is very little research on age-related changes in performance on the task. This study investigated performance on both a Fixed and Random version of the SART in 129 typically developing children aged either 6, 8 or 10 years of age. The Fast Fourier Transform was used to analyse response time (RT) data, to determine the moment-to-moment and slow changes in RT over time. During the Fixed SART the 6 and 8 year olds showed the same level of trial-to-trial fluctuations in response time, as measured by Fast Frequency under the Spectra (FFAUS); both groups showed higher FFAUS than that of the 10 year olds. During the Random SART the 6 year olds showed higher FFAUS than both 8 and 10 year olds, who did not differ. The 6 year olds also showed a greater slowing of RT over the course of the SART than both 8 and 10 year olds, as measured by higher Slow Frequency under the Spectra (SFAUS). There was no difference in SFAUS between the 8 and 10 year olds. The three age groups did not differ in the number of commission errors made during the Random SART. During the Fixed SART the 6 year olds made more commission errors than both 8 and 10 year olds in the first half of the task, while 8 and 10 year olds did not differ; there were no age differences in the second half of the Fixed SART. In conclusion, major improvements in sustained attention occurred between 6 and 8 years of age. Improvement continued beyond the age of 8, however this was to a lesser degree.
Keywords:
development,
response variability,
sustained attention,
Response Time,
Fast Fourier Transform
Conference:
XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Attention
Citation:
Lewis
F,
Reeve
R and
Johnson
KA
(2015). Children's Performance on the Sustained Attention to Response Task: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Age-Related Changes..
Conference Abstract:
XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00269
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Received:
19 Feb 2015;
Published Online:
24 Apr 2015.
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Correspondence:
Ms. Frances Lewis, University of Melbourne, School of Psychological Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, frances.lewis@gmail.com