Multisensory integration typically follows the predictions of a statistically optimal model whereby the contribution of each sensory modality is weighted according to its reliability. Previous research has shown that multisensory integration is affected by ageing, however it is less certain whether older adults follow this statistically optimal model. Additionally, previous studies often present multisensory cues which are conflicting in size, shape or location, yet naturally occurring multisensory cues are usually non-conflicting. Therefore, the mechanisms of integration in older adults might differ depending on whether the multisensory cues are consistent or conflicting. In the current experiment, young (n=21) and older (n=30) adults were asked to make judgements regarding the height of wooden blocks using visual, haptic or combined visual-haptic information. Dual modality visual-haptic blocks could be presented as equal or conflicting in size. Young and older adults' size discrimination thresholds (i.e., precision) were not significantly different for visual, haptic or visual-haptic cues. In addition, both young and older adults' discrimination thresholds and points of subjective equality did not follow model predictions of optimal integration, for both conflicting and non-conflicting cues. Instead, there was considerable between subject variability as to how visual and haptic cues were processed when presented simultaneously. This finding has implications for the development of multisensory therapeutic aids and interventions to assist older adults with everyday activities, where these should be tailored to the needs of each individual.

中文翻译：

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老化对冲突和非冲突视觉触觉刺激的最佳整合的影响。

多感官整合通常遵循统计最优模型的预测，其中每种感官模式的贡献根据其可靠性进行加权。先前的研究表明，多感官整合会受到衰老的影响，但老年人是否遵循这种统计上的最佳模型并不确定。此外，以前的研究经常提出在大小、形状或位置上相互冲突的多感官线索，但自然发生的多感官线索通常是不冲突的。因此，老年人的整合机制可能会有所不同，具体取决于多感官线索是一致的还是冲突的。在当前的实验中，年轻 (n=21) 和年长 (n=30) 的成年人被要求使用视觉来判断木块的高度，触觉或组合视觉触觉信息。双模态视觉触觉块可以显示为大小相等或冲突。对于视觉、触觉或视觉-触觉线索，年轻人和老年人的尺寸辨别阈值（即精度）没有显着差异。此外，对于冲突和非冲突线索，年轻人和老年人的歧视阈值和主观平等点都不遵循最佳整合的模型预测。相反，当同时呈现时，视觉和触觉线索的处理方式在主题之间存在相当大的差异。这一发现对开发多感官治疗辅助工具和干预措施以帮助老年人进行日常活动具有重要意义，这些活动应根据每个人的需求量身定制。