Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The role of preparation in overlapping-task performance

R De Jong1

  • 1University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. A, Human Experimental Psychology
|February 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Task switching involves pre-planning how the central processing channel is allocated between two overlapping tasks. Performance improves when task order is predictable and consistent, especially at shorter intervals.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

BRSV seroprevalence and associated risk factors on Dutch dairy farms.

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2024
Same author

What does "Advanced" mean in 2023? reflecting on 10 years of the ESTRO advanced Skills in modern radiotherapy course.

Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology·2023
Same author

Dynamic prediction of mortality in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit: A retrospective multi-center cohort study.

Intelligence-based medicine·2022
Same author

Evaluation of Ultra-low-dose Paediatric Cone-beam Computed Tomography for Image-guided Radiotherapy.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2020
Same author

Online adaptive radiotherapy compared to plan selection for rectal cancer: quantifying the benefit.

Radiation oncology (London, England)·2020
Same author

Dosimetric benefit of an adaptive treatment by means of plan selection for rectal cancer patients in both short and long course radiation therapy.

Radiation oncology (London, England)·2020

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human performance

Background:

  • Understanding task switching is crucial for optimizing cognitive performance.
  • Previous research indicates that task switching involves executive functions and attention control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the control mechanisms underlying the sequential performance of overlapping discrete tasks.
  • To determine how task order expectations and predictability influence performance.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted manipulating stimulus presentation order, task order predictability, and intertrial intervals.
  • Performance metrics were analyzed to assess the impact of these manipulations on task processing.

Main Results:

  • Task processing order was influenced by expectations, not just stimulus presentation.
  • Consistent task order facilitated performance, particularly when maintained across trials.
  • Holding task order constant benefited the second task more than the first, especially at short intertrial intervals.

Conclusions:

  • Sequential task performance is scheduled in advance.
  • The central processing channel is allocated and switched between tasks, influencing overall efficiency.

Related Experiment Videos