In 2 experiments, a 12-min computerized vigilance task was demonstrated to reproduce the vigilance decrement, high workload (NASA-TLX), and stressful character (Dundee Stress State Questionnaire) of vigilance tasks lasting 30 min or more. In Experiment 1, the abbreviated task was also shown to duplicate the signal salience effect, a major finding associated with long-duration vigilance tasks. Moreover, Experiment 2 showed that performance on the abbreviated task can be enhanced by caffeine - a drug that benefits long-duration tasks. This enhancement effect was limited to performance, however, suggesting that caffeine influences factors that control signal detection but not those that control task-induced stress. The results parallel those obtained with long-duration tasks and support a resource-depletion model of the vigilance decrement. The abbreviated task might be useful in situations in which long-duration tasks are precluded (e.g., performance assessment batteries, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging).

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Recently, Temple, Warm, Dember, LaGrange, & Matthews (1996) described a 12-min computerized vigilance task which duplicates the vigilance decrement and the workload (NASA-TLX) and stress characteristics (Dundee Stress State Questionnaire) of vigils lasting 30 min or more. The abbreviated task may be useful in situations wherein long-duration tasks are precluded, e.g., performance assessment batteries, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging. The present experiment extended this line of investigation by demonstrating that performance on the abbreviated task is enhanced (signal detections were increased and the decrement attenuated) by caffeine — a drug which benefits long-duration vigilance tasks. The enhancement effect associated with caffeine was limited to performance, however, suggesting that the drug influences factors which control signal detection but not those which control task-induced stress.

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