Subitizing, counting, and multiple-object tracking: constraints on item individuation as they affect participants of different ages

这项研究的目的是找出同时监控几个视觉对象的能力是如何从童年到老年发展和变化的。我将使用两个不同的任务：一个是枚举任务，在枚举任务中，观察者会尽可能快地准确地说出有多少个项目；另一个是多对象跟踪任务，在多对象跟踪任务中，观察者会在多个项目之间移动时跟踪它们的位置。尽管这些任务看起来非常不同，但它们都涉及到同时意识到多个不同实体的能力。列举是很重要的，因为“一眼就知道”项目数量的能力是儿童发展数字概念的基础。数学障碍和阅读障碍一样普遍，但人们对它们知之甚少。然而，最近的研究表明，基本计数技能的问题与更普遍的数学障碍的发展之间存在联系。多目标跟踪涉及到物品的运动，因此是视觉运动协调的基础。例如，开车穿过繁忙的十字路口时，需要跟踪行人、骑自行车的人和汽车的位置。了解多目标跟踪中与年龄相关的变化可能有助于解释为什么老年司机在十字路口的风险不成比例。例如，Preusser et al.（1998）表明，65-69岁的司机在十字路口的风险是其他司机的2.26倍，而其他类型的碰撞风险仅是1.29倍。85岁及以上的司机在十字路口发生事故的风险是其他类型事故的3.74倍，是10.62倍。因此，对多目标跟踪的研究可能会使加拿大受益，因为它可以用来减少涉及老年驾驶员（驾驶人口中不断增长的一部分）的车辆碰撞数量。综上所述，这些研究结果对视觉注意和寿命发展的基础研究具有重要意义。同样，因为理解障碍需要了解受影响年龄组的正常功能信息，这些信息可能对治疗注意力相关障碍（如注意力缺陷障碍、自闭症、阿尔茨海默病、精神分裂症和忽视）的从业者有用。

The objective for this research is to find out how the ability to monitor several visual objects at once develops and changes from childhood to old age. I will use two different tasks: the enumeration task, in which observers say how many items there are as fast as they can with accuracy, and the multiple-object tracking task, in which observers keep track of the positions of a number of items as they move among other items. Although these tasks seem very different, they both involve the ability to be aware of a number of distinct entities at a time. Enumeration is important insofar as the ability to "know at a glance" the number of items is fundamental to the development of the number concept in children. Math disabilities are as prevalent as reading disabilities and yet little is known about them. However, recent studies suggest a link between problems in basic enumeration skills and the development of more pervasive mathematical disabilities. Multiple-object tracking involves item movement, and as such, is fundamental to visual-motor coordination. For example, driving through a busy intersection requires tracking positions of pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. Understanding age-related change in multiple-object tracking may help explain why older drivers are disproportionately at risk at intersections. For example, Preusser et  al. (1998) showed that drivers aged 65-69 years were 2.26 times more at risk at intersections than other drivers, while only 1.29 times more at risk for other types of crash. Drivers 85 years and older were 10.62 times more at risk at intersections as compared to 3.74 for other types of crash. Consequently, research on multiple-object tracking may benefit Canada insofar as it may be used to reduce the number of vehicle crashes involving older drivers (a growing segment of the driving population). Overall, the results of these studies will be important for basic research on visual attention and lifespan development. As well, because understanding disorders requires information about normal functioning for the affected age groups, this information may be useful for practitioners treating individuals with attention-related disorders, such as Attention Deficit Disorder, autism, Alzheimer's Disease, schizophrenia, and neglect.