Research ReportPerceptual and cognitive neural correlates of the useful field of view test in older adults

- Better UFOV object identification (subtest 1) is related to a larger P1 amplitude.
- Better performance on all UFOV subtests is associated with shorter P3 latency.
- Neural correlates of UFOV performance include markers of early perceptual selection.
- Neural correlates also include markers of attentional control and processing speed.

The Useful Field of View Test (UFOV) is often used as a behavioral assessment of age-related decline in visual perception and cognition. Poor performance may reflect slowed processing speed, difficulty dividing attention, and difficulty ignoring irrelevant information. However, the underlying neural correlates of UFOV performance have not been identified. The relationship between older adults׳ UFOV performance and event-related potential (ERP) components reflecting visual processing was examined. P1 amplitude increased with better UFOV performance involving object identification (subtest 1), suggesting that this task is associated with stimulus processing at an early perceptual level. Better performance in all UFOV subtests was associated with faster speed of processing, as reflected by decreases in P3b latency. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that the UFOV recruits both early perceptual and later cognitive processing involved in attentional control. The implications of these results are discussed.