Dual-task interference in simple tasks: data and theory
Abstract
People often have trouble performing 2 relatively simple tasks concurrently. The causes of this interference and its implications for the nature of attentional limitations have been controversial for 40 years, but recent experimental findings are beginning to provide some answers. Studies of the psychological refractory period effect indicate a stubborn bottleneck encompassing the process of choosing actions and probably memory retrieval generally, together with certain other cognitive operations. Other limitations associated with task preparation, sensory-perceptual processes, and timing can generate additional and distinct forms of interference. These conclusions challenge widely accepted ideas about attentional resources and probe reaction time methodologies. They also suggest new ways of thinking about continuous dual-task performance, effects of extraneous stimulation (e.g., stop signals), and automaticity. Implications for higher mental processes are discussed.
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Dual-task conditions decrease performance in both laboratory and medical settings.
“Dual-task conditions are known to decrease perfor-mance in both laboratory settings [31] and medical settings [32][33][34][35] .”
From Enhancing human-AI collaboration: The case of colonoscopy (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
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- Authors
- Pashler, H.
- Affiliations
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pashler, Harold
- ORCID
- Pashler, Harold
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 1994
- Volume
- 116
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 220-244
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2051914653
- Cited by
- 3,112
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 154 · 2025: 155 · 2024: 126 · 2023: 132 · 2022: 160 · 2021: 159 · 2020: 171 · 2019: 146 · 2018: 152 · 2017: 141 · 2016: 143 · 2015: 156 · 2014: 136 · 2013: 137 · 2012: 111
- FWCI
- 5.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R29MH045584)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Human-Automation Interaction and Safety
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- dual-task interference, attentional limitations, psychological refractory period, action selection, memory retrieval, task preparation, timing, attentional resources, probe reaction time, stop signal, automaticity
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Automatism, Humans, Reaction Time, Task Performance and Analysis
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