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Conscious thought and the sustained attention to response task.
William S Helton1, Rosalie P Kern, Donieka R Walker
1Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. Deak_Helton@yahoo.com
Consciousness and Cognition
|July 11, 2009
Summary
The sustained attention to response task (SART) measures impulsive responding, not sustained attention. Performance on the SART is influenced by reaction times and self-reported thoughts, regardless of emotional stimuli exposure.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The sustained attention to response task (SART) is commonly used to assess sustained attention.
- Understanding SART properties is crucial for accurate cognitive assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate SART performance characteristics, including speed-accuracy tradeoffs.
- To determine if emotional picture stimuli influence SART performance.
- To evaluate the SART's efficacy as a measure of impulsive responding versus sustained attention.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six participants completed SARTs.
- Participants were exposed to neutral and negative emotional picture stimuli prior to SART performance.
- Data analysis focused on errors of commission, reaction times, and self-reported thoughts.
Main Results:
- SART performance exhibited rapid changes over time.
- A significant negative correlation was found between errors of commission and reaction time to neutral targets (r=-.61).
- Self-reported thoughts correlated significantly with both errors of commission and reaction times, irrespective of prior stimulus exposure.
Conclusions:
- The SART appears to be a more sensitive measure of impulsive responding than sustained attention.
- Reaction times and cognitive processes, as indicated by self-reported thoughts, are key factors in SART performance.
- Emotional stimuli may not significantly alter SART performance in the way impulsive responding is measured.
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