Inhibition of Return and Ageing:An Overview

Ageing is as real as mortality for all living beings and ageing brings certain brain related changes which causes changes in cognitive functioning. Inhibition of return (IOR) is a phenomenon related to attention and it is an important cognitive process which is affected by ageing. IOR refers to the phenomenon of delaying of response to cued location as the gap between cue and target presentation (Stimulus Onset Asynchrony, SOA) increases. The present paper is an attempt to explore the phenomenon of IOR and whether the ageing process influences IOR. Studies reviewed indicated contradictory findings. Some studies found similar IOR effects in both younger and older adults. While other studies had reported age related differences, i.e., older adults exhibit greater magnitude and longer and continuous effects of IOR than younger adults.