The present study investigated age-related differences in perceptual learning. We assessed performance and learning on a semantic category visual search task. We investigated whether prepractice was beneficial for general learning and for automatic attention response development. In terms of general learning, prepractice was beneficial, especially for older adults; however, prepractice did not benefit automatic attention response development. The implications of these results for training purposes are discussed.
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D. Kristen Gilbert is an assistant professor of psychology at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She received a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Memphisin 1995.
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Wendy A. Rogers is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Georgia. She received her Ph.D. (1991) in experimental psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology.
