Biomedical subjects

Sally Andrews

Publications and source records attributed to Sally Andrews.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Between- and within-individual effects of visual contrast sensitivity on perceptual matching, processing speed, and associative memory in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Although cross-sectional studies have demonstrated associations between visual contrast sensitivity and cognitive test performance, it remains unclear whether peripheral visual or perceptual factors explain the association. OBJECTIVE: We aimed at determining whether reducing static contrast of the study stimuli would simulate the performance deficits on measures of processing speed and associative memory that are associated with aging. METHODS: We investigated the mechanism by which vision and memory are associated in a sample of 91 volunteers aged 60-87 years. In tests of perceptual matching, digit-symbol matching, and associative memory, the level of static contrast of the stimuli was manipulated, with three contrast levels. The duration of stimuli presentation was also manipulated in the associative memory task in a full-factorial experimental design. Accuracy and response latencies (for correct trials) were measured. RESULTS: Experimental results showed that within subjects, lower contrast was associated with longer latencies, indicating an effect on information processing speed. Regression analyses replicated previous findings of a moderate to strong association between visual contrast sensitivity and cognitive performance in cross-sectional studies. CONCLUSION: These results provide support for a theory in which visual aging is associated with slower encoding of information as well as being involved at a more central level.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

Visual memory testing in older adults with age-related visual decline: a measure of memory performance or visual functioning?

Although we know that vision is correlated with memory performance in older adults, the implications for this in terms of neuropsychological assessment have not been investigated. Relationships among age, visual acuity, and visual and verbal memory in 89 community dwelling volunteers aged 60 to 87 years were examined. Vision was tested using the Landolt C and visual and verbal memory were assessed via the Visual Reproduction (VR) and Word List (WL) subtests from the Wechsler Memory Scale, Third Edition (WMS-III; Wechsler, 1997), respectively. Significant correlations were observed between vision and the VR and WL tasks. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that vision significantly increased the R2 for VR and WL after controlling for age and education. The effect of vision was not specific to visual memory. We conclude that vision is correlated with general memory function in older adults, and is not modality specific.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Levels of processing effects on implicit and explicit memory tasks: using question position to investigate the lexical-processing hypothesis.

One interpretation of levels of processing effects (LOP) on priming in implicit tests of memory is in terms of deficits in lexical processing during shallow study tasks. In two experiments the extent of lexical processing engaged in during standard shallow encoding tasks was manipulated by placing the encoding question either before or after the target stimulus. Clear evidence was found in explicit memory tasks that placing the question after the target stimulus increased the depth of processing of words presented in shallow encoding tasks. In contrast, there was no evidence of such an effect on the priming observed in implicit memory tasks. The results suggest that the role of lexical processing in LOP effects on priming requires further specification.

Cues↗

PubMed2003

Perceptions of responsibility for clinical risk management: evidence from orthopaedics practitioners, practice managers and patients in an Australian capital city.

The article describes a study of the perceptions of three groups--patients, orthopaedic surgeons and the surgeons' practice managers--concerning three types of legal risk associated with the duty of care: failure to follow up, failure to warn and failure to diagnose. The study found there is cause for concern about doctors' follow-up and documentation of patient care. Doctors may be unaware of the Australian courts' propensity to emphasise practitioner responsibility rather than patient autonomy. A further important result is the considerable disparity between the surgeons' views and the views of their practice managers about the duty of care. The article draws out implications for improved risk awareness and suggests further research.

Australia↗