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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access originally published online on March 10, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2009 64B(2):222-231; doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp003
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Effects of Optic Flow Speed and Lateral Flow Asymmetry on Locomotion in Younger and Older Adults: A Virtual Reality Study

Ying-hui Chou1, Robert C. Wagenaar1, Elliot Saltzman1, J. Erik Giphart1, Daniel Young1, Rosa Davidsdottir2 and Alice Cronin-Golomb2

1 Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Boston University, Massachusetts
2 Department of Psychology, Boston University, Massachusetts

Address correspondence to Ying-hui Chou PhD, ScD, Department of Occupational Therapy, Medical College, Fu-Jen Catholic University, No. 510, Zhongzheng Road, Xinzhuang City, Taipei County 242, Taiwan. Email: yinghuichou{at}gmail.com


  Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether there are age-related differences in locomotion due to changes in presence of vision, optic flow speed, and lateral flow asymmetry using virtual reality technology. Gait kinematics and heading direction were measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Although older and younger adults were affected differentially by the availability of vision, a greater dependence on optic flow information in older adults during walking was not found. Linear relations were observed between walking performance and flow speed as well as heading direction and flow asymmetry. The findings suggest that the ability to integrate optic flow information into the multimodal system for assessment of walking speed and heading direction is comparable in older and younger adults.

Key Words: Optic flow speed • Virtual reality • Locomotion • Interlimb coordination • Heading direction • Visual dependence

Received February 8, 2008; Accepted December 20, 2008
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