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如何监测几个视觉对象的能力，一次发展和变化，从童年到老年。我将使用两个不同的任务：枚举任务，在这个任务中，观察者尽可能快地准确地说出有多少个物品，以及多对象跟踪任务，在这个任务中，观察者在许多物品之间移动时跟踪它们的位置。虽然这些任务看起来非常不同，但它们都涉及同时意识到许多不同实体的能力。计数是重要的，因为“一眼就知道”项目的数量的能力是儿童数概念发展的基础。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。多目标跟踪涉及项目运动，因此，是视觉运动协调的基础。例如，驾驶通过忙碌的十字路口需要跟踪行人、骑自行车的人和汽车的位置。了解多对象跟踪中与年龄相关的变化可能有助于解释为什么老年驾驶员在十字路口的风险不成比例。例如，Preusser等人（1998年）表明，65-69岁的驾驶员在交叉路口的风险是其他驾驶员的2.26倍，而其他类型的碰撞风险仅为1.29倍。85岁及以上的司机在十字路口的风险是其他类型事故的3.74倍。因此，对多物体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（驾驶人口中越来越多的部分）的车祸数量。总的来说，这些研究的结果将对视觉注意力和寿命发展的基础研究非常重要。同样，因为理解障碍需要有关受影响年龄组的正常功能的信息，这些信息可能对治疗注意力相关障碍的从业者有用，例如注意力缺陷障碍，自闭症，阿尔茨海默病，精神分裂症和忽视。

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.