Assessing the development of automatic processing: an application of dual-task and event-related brain potential...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human Factors

Background:

• Automatic processing properties do not always co-occur, indicating varied acquisition rates.
• Understanding skill acquisition requires examining the differential development of automaticity in cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acquisition rates of automatic processing properties using additive factors logic, dual-task methodology, and event-related brain potentials.
• To compare the automation of stimulus evaluation versus response selection in memory search tasks.

Main Methods:

• Seven participants performed visual/memory search and pursuit step tracking tasks, individually and concurrently, over ten sessions.
• Reaction time (RT) and P300 latency were measured to assess processing efficiency and automation.
• Additive factors logic and dual-task methodology were employed to analyze processing demands and interference.

Main Results:

• Parallel processing was achieved early in training for consistent mapping, unaffected by dual-task demands.
• Perceptual efficiency, indicated by RT/P300 ratios, developed later in practice, particularly in consistent mapping conditions.
• P300 latency showed automation of stimulus evaluation occurred faster than response selection (indicated by RT).
• Tracking task difficulty produced similar interference across consistent and varied mapping conditions.

Conclusions:

• Skill acquisition involves distinct automation timelines for different cognitive components.
• Stimulus evaluation processes automate more rapidly than response selection components during skill learning.
• Dual-task interference is influenced by task mapping conditions and processing demands.