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Published on: December 5, 2014
Effects of extensive dual-task practice on processing stages in simultaneous choice tasks.
Tilo Strobach1, Roman Liepelt, Harold Pashler
1Department Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany. tilo.strobach@psy.lmu.de
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|April 13, 2013
Summary
Extensive dual-task practice improves performance by speeding up central response selection and auditory perception. This research clarifies mechanisms behind perfect time-sharing in dual-task scenarios.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Performance
Background:
- Dual-task costs, or performance decrements when performing two tasks simultaneously, are a key area of research.
- Schumacher et al. (2001) previously demonstrated "perfect time-sharing" (elimination of dual-task costs) after extensive practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate which specific task-processing stages are affected by dual-task practice.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the elimination of dual-task costs through practice.
Main Methods:
- Employed a transfer methodology with postpractice probes.
- Examined perceptual, central response-selection, and motor-response stages across three experiments.
Main Results:
- Dual-task practice significantly accelerated central response-selection stages for both visual and auditory tasks.
- Perceptual processing of the auditory task also showed shortening, contributing to improved time-sharing.
Conclusions:
- The primary mechanism for improved dual-task performance is the speed-up of central response selection.
- Practice-related improvements in time-sharing involve enhancements in both central processing and perceptual stages.
