Face perception is impaired in a variety of ways in older adults, but the mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. A central theme of this dissertation is that task performance is constrained by two factors intrinsic to the observer: sources of random variability -- internal noise -- and the efficiency with which task-relevant stimulus information is utilized. This thesis uses several behavioural, psychophysical methods to examine how age-related changes in one or both of these factors affect face processing. Chapter 2 used the classification image (CI) method to characterize the spatial sampling patterns of younger and older observers performing a face discrimination task. Compared to younger adults, older adults used information in the eye/brow region less consistently and instead relied on relatively less informative regions such as the forehead. The differences in CIs accounted for the lower absolute efficiency that was found in older observers. Chapter 3 estimated internal noise and calculation efficiency by measuring threshold-vs.-noise (TvN) curves and response consistency in a face discrimination task. Compared to younger observers, older observers had higher additive internal noise and lower calculation efficiency, but the magnitude of multiplicative internal noise did not differ between age groups. Previous studies have shown that younger adults have a bias to rely on horizontal structure to discriminate and identify faces, and the magnitude of this so-called horizontal bias is correlated with identification accuracy. The experiments in Chapter 4 measured horizontal bias in younger and older adults, and found that age differences in horizontal bias account for some, but not all, of the age difference in face identification accuracy. In summary, my work demonstrates that additive (but not multiplicative) internal noise is greater in older adults, and that they are less efficient at sampling information that is conveyed by structure at different locations and orientations in a face. / Dissertation / Doctor of Science (PhD) / Our experience of the visual environment results from perceptual processes in the brain. Many of these processes change with age, such as our ability to identify someone from a photograph of their face. Performance is influenced by both random variability, or "noise", within the observer and how efficiently we use task-relevant information in the visual environment. By systematically manipulating the amount of available stimulus information I assessed the contribution of these factors to older adults' judgements of facial identity, and characterized the information on which these decisions are based. These experiments are the first to consider how face perception in older adults is constrained by the combined effects of internal noise and the efficiency with which the visual system utilizes various sources of information. The results provide a number of directions for future research in the fields of face perception and age-related changes in complex pattern vision.

Os ruídos, vibrações e asperezas de rodagem veicular (do acrônimo em inglês Road NVH), presentes de 20 Hz até 1000 Hz aproximadamente, originam-se das vibrações e propagações acústicas dos pneus ao interagir com as superfícies. Nestas fontes de ruído, ambas as vias de contribuições estruturais e aéreas, são relevantes para o refinamento veicular. Constantes são os esforços para estudar o veículo como um conjunto de caminhos de transferência entre a dinâmica dos pneus até o conforto dos passageiros. Sendo assim, o tratamento dos mecanismos que geram e propagam o ruído e vibração à cabine está avançando, graças aos testes e análises sistemáticas, fundamentadas na teoria de Análises dos Caminhos de Transferências de energia (TPA do inglês transfer path analysis). O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um estudo de um caso de Road NVH utilizando o TPA em veículo protótipo. Neste tema, é investigado o nível de ruído de rodagem em torno de 180 Hz, semelhante ao efeito de roncar (rumble, na expressão em inglês). Este ruído permanece presente no protótipo, em diversos tipos de pista e velocidades, porém em apenas um modelo de pneu (batizado de modelo \"A\"), entre os diversos testados. Das avaliações subjetivas prévias, defini-se que o foco das investigações são as contribuições estruturais da suspensão dianteira. Usando o TPA para demonstrar os caminhos críticos na formação do rumble, aplicou-se o método da matriz inversa para o calculo das forcas, considerando os seguintes pontos: buchas do braço de controle do A-Arm e de ligação da carroceria com a parte superior da suspensão dianteira (fig. 4.6 - tipo Mc Pherson). Foram obtidas experimentalmente as vibrações dos lados ativos e passivos destes pontos, nas condições de rolagem e as funções de resposta vibracionais e acústica do ponto, no laboratório. Após a correlação do ruído interno calculado com o medido, concluiu-se que o rumble deste caso foi gerado pela baixa eficiência de isolação das vibrações radiais nas buchas anteriores e pela força lateral do pneu \"A\". Por fim, propostas de bucha e pneu são apresentadas em termos das novas forças e respostas acústicas transmitidas, para minimizar o rumble. / The road noise, vibration and harshness (Road NVH) present from 20 Hz to 1000 Hz approximately, begins from the tires vibration and acoustic propagation and their interactions with the road surfaces. In these noise sources, both structural-borne and air-borne noise contributions are relevant to vehicle refinement. The constant efforts to study the vehicle as a set of transfer paths from tires dynamic behavior to passenger comfort to the final passenger comfort perception. Thus the treatment of generation and propagation mechanisms, have being forward thanks to the systematic tests and proceedings based on the transfer path analysis theory (TPA). The purpose of this work is to present a case study of Road NVH, using TPA in prototype vehicle. On this theme, it is investigated a higher noise level around 180 Hz, on the rumble narrow band. This noise remains in the prototype during several types of tracks and speeds conditions, whenever only a tire model, named as sample A, is used, despites all tires tested. From the previous subjective evaluation, the focus of the investigation is defined to be structure-borne of the front suspension. Using TPA to demonstrate the critical paths to rumble, it was applied the matrix inversion method to force calculation, considering the follow points: A-Arm type lower control arm bushings and top mounts of front suspension (picture 4.6 - Mc Pherson type). The vibration in the active and passive side of these points during test conditions and the FRFs driving points and body sensitivity for a target microphone were obtained experimentally. After correlation between internal road noise calculated and the measured, it was concluded the Rumble of this case had been formed by low radial vibration isolation of the front bushings and due lateral forces of tire A. At last, the bushing and tire proposals are presented in terms of new transmitted forces and acoustical responses, to minimize the rumble.

Os ruídos, vibrações e asperezas de rodagem veicular (do acrônimo em inglês Road NVH), presentes de 20 Hz até 1000 Hz aproximadamente, originam-se das vibrações e propagações acústicas dos pneus ao interagir com as superfícies. Nestas fontes de ruído, ambas as vias de contribuições estruturais e aéreas, são relevantes para o refinamento veicular. Constantes são os esforços para estudar o veículo como um conjunto de caminhos de transferência entre a dinâmica dos pneus até o conforto dos passageiros. Sendo assim, o tratamento dos mecanismos que geram e propagam o ruído e vibração à cabine está avançando, graças aos testes e análises sistemáticas, fundamentadas na teoria de Análises dos Caminhos de Transferências de energia (TPA do inglês transfer path analysis). O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um estudo de um caso de Road NVH utilizando o TPA em veículo protótipo. Neste tema, é investigado o nível de ruído de rodagem em torno de 180 Hz, semelhante ao efeito de roncar (rumble, na expressão em inglês). Este ruído permanece presente no protótipo, em diversos tipos de pista e velocidades, porém em apenas um modelo de pneu (batizado de modelo \"A\"), entre os diversos testados. Das avaliações subjetivas prévias, defini-se que o foco das investigações são as contribuições estruturais da suspensão dianteira. Usando o TPA para demonstrar os caminhos críticos na formação do rumble, aplicou-se o método da matriz inversa para o calculo das forcas, considerando os seguintes pontos: buchas do braço de controle do A-Arm e de ligação da carroceria com a parte superior da suspensão dianteira (fig. 4.6 - tipo Mc Pherson). Foram obtidas experimentalmente as vibrações dos lados ativos e passivos destes pontos, nas condições de rolagem e as funções de resposta vibracionais e acústica do ponto, no laboratório. Após a correlação do ruído interno calculado com o medido, concluiu-se que o rumble deste caso foi gerado pela baixa eficiência de isolação das vibrações radiais nas buchas anteriores e pela força lateral do pneu \"A\". Por fim, propostas de bucha e pneu são apresentadas em termos das novas forças e respostas acústicas transmitidas, para minimizar o rumble. / The road noise, vibration and harshness (Road NVH) present from 20 Hz to 1000 Hz approximately, begins from the tires vibration and acoustic propagation and their interactions with the road surfaces. In these noise sources, both structural-borne and air-borne noise contributions are relevant to vehicle refinement. The constant efforts to study the vehicle as a set of transfer paths from tires dynamic behavior to passenger comfort to the final passenger comfort perception. Thus the treatment of generation and propagation mechanisms, have being forward thanks to the systematic tests and proceedings based on the transfer path analysis theory (TPA). The purpose of this work is to present a case study of Road NVH, using TPA in prototype vehicle. On this theme, it is investigated a higher noise level around 180 Hz, on the rumble narrow band. This noise remains in the prototype during several types of tracks and speeds conditions, whenever only a tire model, named as sample A, is used, despites all tires tested. From the previous subjective evaluation, the focus of the investigation is defined to be structure-borne of the front suspension. Using TPA to demonstrate the critical paths to rumble, it was applied the matrix inversion method to force calculation, considering the follow points: A-Arm type lower control arm bushings and top mounts of front suspension (picture 4.6 - Mc Pherson type). The vibration in the active and passive side of these points during test conditions and the FRFs driving points and body sensitivity for a target microphone were obtained experimentally. After correlation between internal road noise calculated and the measured, it was concluded the Rumble of this case had been formed by low radial vibration isolation of the front bushings and due lateral forces of tire A. At last, the bushing and tire proposals are presented in terms of new transmitted forces and acoustical responses, to minimize the rumble.