Speed-of-processing training based on UFOV tasks reduces minimum duration thresholds in older adults, with benefits persisting up to two years¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r2–r3 · q2–q3
Currency · newest study 2012 · checked against its sources 2026-10-18 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Practice on UFOV-based computer tasks leads to reductions in minimum duration thresholds, and training benefits are still manifest up to two years later. → Owsley Cynthia 2012 q2 i? Older adults most likely to benefit are those with elevated duration thresholds at baseline; educational level has no impact on training gains. → Owsley Cynthia 2012 (2)

Evidence¶

Owsley Cynthia 2012¶

Owsley Cynthia. (2012). Visual Processing Speed. Vision Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2012.11.014

q3 · i? · review · r2

The review reports multiple studies including a randomized multi-site NIH-sponsored clinical trial showing UFOV-based training "leads to reductions in minimum duration thresholds", i.e. visual processing was speeded up, with benefits still manifest up to two years later. No effect size is printed.

"In several subsequent studies (Edwards et al., 2002, Edwards et al., 2005c, Roenker et al., 2003, Vance et al., 2007, Wadley et al., 2006) including a randomized, multi-site clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (Ball et al., 2002, Willis et al., 2006), a training program based on the UFOV® tasks leads to reductions in minimum duration thresholds"

Owsley Cynthia 2012 (2)¶

Owsley Cynthia. (2012). Visual Processing Speed. Vision Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2012.11.014

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review reports moderator findings: trainees with elevated baseline duration thresholds benefit most, while educational level has no impact on training gains. Efficacy for visually impaired older adults and for those with mild cognitive impairment remains undetermined, though some evidence suggests those with MCI-consistent memory deficits may improve.

"Those most likely to benefit are those who demonstrate slowing (elevated duration thresholds) at baseline, i.e. they have room for improvement (Ball et al., 2007). Educational level has no impact on training gains (Ball et al., 2007)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Processing Speed — outcome: instruction changes it
• Visual Processing — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Speed-of-processing training transfers to health and functional outcomes including reduced crash risk, improved driving, faster daily-task completion, slower health-related quality-of-life decline, and reduced depression risk — related
• Brain games produce statistically significant cognitive performance gains in older adults, but gains are modest and do not detect improvements over control tasks or produce far transfer — related
• Training benefits did not extend to processing speed tasks, indicating specificity to cognitive control processes — related
• Computerized cognitive training produces a small but statistically significant improvement in cognitive performance in healthy older adults — a broader claim this one bears on
• Poorer useful field of view performance in older adults predicts motor vehicle collision risk and difficulties in everyday visual tasks, even after adjustment for sensory and cognitive impairment — related