Effects of cognitive foveal load on a peripheral single-target detection task

This experiment investigated the effects of foveal cognitive load on a primary peripheral single-target detection task. Four levels of foveal task with cognitive loads involving identification and summation of numerals were used. Number of correct targets detected seemed unaffected by the foveal load in the near periphery but a decrement occurred beyond 7.7 degrees. Response times for correct responses showed large dispersion compared with that for correct locations. At a low cognitive load, foveal task performance showed no deterioration for all eccentricities tested, but at a higher cognitive load performance declined gradually across eccentricities. Mild evidence of tunnel vision was obtained as indicated by the significant interaction of cognitive loads x eccentricities. Resources theory accounted well for the results.