Perspective Switching in Young and Older Adults

One aspect of visual perspective taking (VPT) is the ability to switch between perspectives associated with self and others. Attenuated inhibition of the egocentric perspective is thought to underlie perspective taking difficulties in older adults leading to impaired social function. 117 adults (50 older adults 55-79 years; 67 young adults 18-36 years) completed two visual perspective taking tasks. The first task measured perspective tracking and required participants to understand what can be seen from the egocentric or allocentric perspective. The second measured perspective taking and required understanding how objects are seen from the egocentric or allocentric perspective. Both tasks involved trials that were congruent or incongruent between the two perspectives in order to assess how the other perspective interferes with the task-relevant perspective. Trials were further separated into those that required switching (preceding perspective was different to current) or sticking (preceding perspective was the same). We show an egocentric switch cost during perspective tracking in younger adults thought to reflect inhibition of the default egocentric perspective in the preceding trial. However, this effect was not identified in older adults. Moreover, older adults showed greater interference from their own perspective when required to stick with the allocentric perspective. No age differences were identified during perspective taking with both age groups showing an egocentric switch cost and an allocentric stick cost. The results provide evidence for age-related changes in VPT that are dependent on the requirement to switch or stick perspectives. Increased egocentricity in older adults is apparent but dependent on the switch-related context.