Environment, health and individual differences Flashcards
Dual task paradigms
cognitive task and exposure to certain + or - environemnts
fixate then bring up
two objects decide if same put irrelevant image inbetween the two objects.
If need to supress image (as attracts attention) then reaction time longer
nature median reaction time less then urban
turn image upside down to reduce semantic associations has little impact
Increased cognitive load affect on walking
decreased walking speed
decreased stride length
increased stride time
increased stride variability
Walking and image study
grey vs nature vs urban
both slower then grey but urban slowest
outline of Testing environmental factors on cognitive load
relative changes in environmentally induced cognitive load can be seen on trial-by-trial basis by using different environments as distracters
measure reaction time an gait kinematics
Differences in cognitive demands reasons
Task effects
basic image statistics
visual discomfort
aesthetic preferences
social factors
semantic associations
Aesthetic preferences
ppts rate images (Likert scale)
pick urban and nature based on similar score
speed same for both
Visual discomfort
ppts rate how uncomfortable image makes them feel
look at distribution and compare to step length
when more uncomfortable step length decreases
again independent of nature vs urban
Basic image statistics explained
spatial and temporal frequency distributions
1/Fα slope - mean 1.2 for natural scenes
scale-invariant-repetition of patterns (even when zoom in or out) considered fractural
nature more fractural then urban
visual system tuned to 1/Fα scale and best able to discriminate these images
basic image statistics study
take images and see how diverge from spectrum
walk with phone
took images of routes taken
look at greenery vs urbaneness of image
calculated last 10 seconds to see if gait effected
step time decreased with higher spectrum scores
Other study into fractural spectrum
change fractural of images
higher fractural had quicker walking speeds
Individual differences in visual perception: ageing
presbyopia - decreased ability to focus
lower light sensitivity
increased sensitivity to glare
decreased contrast and colour sensitivity (blue range falls away)
narrow useful field of view
slower to adapt to changes in light
slower to refocus changes in distance
accommodating to visually impaired
edges on stairs, texture on floor - hardly any impact as impaired on edges
Impact of light and glare
light reflections cause glare can’t walk
Primrose pattern
movement effected by green light cue
un-age related visual differences in perception
FFA
mood
social anxiety
visual trigger for seizure and migraines
Pokémon cartoon
London Olympics logo - seizures and headaches
Visual stress and pattern glare
0.5 cpd vs 3 cpd vs 12 cpd
pattern glare increases with cycles. Those with migraines effected a lot 3 while control is not
Why cause pain
Brain overstimulated (primary visual cortex)
habituation unable to happen fast enough
activity stays high > overstimulated > cortical wave > pain
Visual stressors in built environment
dots and stripes
more enviro patten diverges from 1/Fα more visually stressful it is
Visual crowding
if look at middle then easily see child on right
signs acts as flanks otherwise
occurs a lot in urban environments
Impact of sensory environment on health: individual differences
age
neurodegenerative diseases
migraines
autism
ADHC
dyslexia
epilepsy
psychosis
anxiety and depression
