Target Distance from the Visual Field and Increased Age Affect Visual Search Efficiency

Previous research has demonstrated that visual search is influenced by environmental factors, but the effects of specific variables, such as target distance from the visual field center and age, are not well understood. To address this issue, we aim to investigate their impact on visual search task. Participants engaged in target-present and target-absent trials, revealing distinct patterns in search times. Behavioral data and drift-diffusion modeling (DDM) showed that increasing the target's distance from the center of the visual field significantly reduces search efficiency. Additionally, age negatively impacts search performance, with older individuals exhibiting reduced efficiency. This comprehensive examination contributes to understanding cognitive mechanisms in visual processing. These findings highlight the importance of considering spatial and age-related factors in visual search tasks.