Perception-Action Integration in Collision Avoidance in Older Adults

Collision avoidance can be described as a whole-body movement control problem in which visual information is used to elicit accurate movement adaptations. Age-related visuomotor degradation is a potential factor contributing to mobility difficulties in older adults. However, there remains a gap in understanding what age-related visuomotor changes are causing older adults to be more susceptible to collisions and falls. Movements are planned based on visual information received from the environment, as well as from situational cues. Older adults may be missing visual cues from the environment or situation, thus contributing to improper actions which could lead to an increased risk of collisions and falls. The purpose of the proposed project is to understand the behavioural strategies used by older adults when avoiding a collision with another older adult while walking along crossing trajectories. Young adults are able to anticipate the risk of a future collision with another individual and collision avoidance is performed collaboratively. We expect that older adults will have delayed visuomotor processing, thus leading to more cautious behaviours than their young adult counterparts.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Cinelli

Student:

Partner:

Université de Haute Bretagne Rennes 2

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Wilfrid Laurier University

Program: