Editorial: Multitasking: Executive Functioning in Dual-Task and Task Switching Situations

Strobach, Tilo; Wendt, Mike; Janczyk, Markus

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00108

Cited by 47 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…No mediation effect or moderation effect, however, was found. The finding that the Dual Task was the only test that was significantly related to work performance, could perhaps be explained by the fact that dual-task performance is associated with task-switching [78,79], an activity that people often engage in while working.…”

Section: Work Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and work performance in non-clinical burnout: The role of working memory

et al. 2020

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We investigated the relationship between cognitive functioning, work performance, and sleep in non-clinical burnout. In a working population, an online survey was conducted with additional online neuropsychological tests of varying complexity, measuring attention and different components of working memory, of which the coordinating subcomponent the 'Central Executive' is thought to be the most vulnerable to stress. Results indicate that nonclinical burnout is associated with more-though not severe-sleep problems, more depressive complaints, impaired work performance, and with both subjective and objective cognitive impairments. Compared with healthy respondents (N = 107), people with non-clinical burnout (N = 17) had a significantly poorer performance on the tests of the visuospatial sketchpad and the Central Executive of the working memory. Our study also indicates that more complex tests may be more sensitive in detecting cognitive dysfunction in non-clinical burnout. Furthermore, a relationship was found between dual-task performance and work performance. Regarding to sleep quality, in our sample of people with non-clinical burnout, there were no severe sleep problems. In the entire sample, however, insomnia was significantly related to subjective, but not objective, cognitive functioning, and also not to work performance.

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Section: Work Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and work performance in non-clinical burnout: The role of working memory

et al. 2020

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“…close encounters) is held constant across load levels, the hypothesized patterns differ whether load and crowding rely on the same or different mechanisms: a) expected pattern for the load effect being given by the amount of crowding; b) expected pattern for a load-crowding model with independent mechanisms; c) expected pattern for a load-crowding model with shared mechanisms. This would be expected because the two loading factors would act as "dual-tasks" (Strobach et al, 2018;Williges & Wierwille, 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct Neural Mechanisms Meet Challenges in Dynamic Visual Attention due to Either Load or Object Spacing

Mäki-Marttunen

Hagen

Laeng

et al. 2020

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

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When engaged in dynamic visuospatial tasks, the brain copes with perceptual and cognitive processing challenges. During multiple-object tracking (MOT), the number of objects to be tracked (i.e., load) imposes attentional demands, but so does spatial interference from irrelevant objects (i.e., close encounters). Presently, it is not clear whether the effect of load on accuracy solely depends on the number of close encounters. If so, the same cognitive and physiological mechanisms deal with increasing load by preparing for and dealing with spatial interference. However, this has never been directly tested. Such knowledge is important to understand the neurophysiology of dynamic visual attention and resolve conflicting views within visual cognition concerning sources of capacity limitations. We varied the processing challenge in MOT task in two ways: the number of targets and the minimum spatial proximity between targets and distractors. In a first experiment, we measured task-induced pupil dilations and saccades during MOT. In a separate cohort, we measured fMRI activity. In both cohorts, increased load and close encounters (i.e., close spatial proximity) led to reduced accuracy in an additive manner. Load was associated with pupil dilations, whereas close encounters were not. Activity in dorsal attentional areas and frequency of saccades were proportionally larger both with higher levels of load and close encounters. Close encounters recruited additionally ventral attentional areas that may reflect orienting mechanisms. The activity in two brainstem nuclei, ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra and locus coeruleus, showed clearly dissociated patterns. Our results constitute convergent evidence indicating that different mechanisms underlie processing challenges due to load and object spacing.

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“…Task switching paradigms have been used to examine the effect of practice on reducing cognitive control costs associated with transitions between tasks or "switch costs". Switch costs are thought to reflect cognitive control processes involved in taskset reconfiguration, defined as the mental processes necessary to change cognitive state to prepare for a new task, or processes involved in overcoming task-set inertia, defined as interference caused by the task-set from the previous trial (Berryhill & Hughes, 2009;Draheim, Dreisbach, 2019;Strobach, Wendt, & Janczyk, 2018). Switch costs are observed in increases in reaction times and error rates on trials where participants switch tasks, relative to those where they repeat tasks (for a review: Monsell, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abstract sequential task control is facilitated by practice and embedded motor sequences

Trach

McKim

Desrochers

2020

Preprint

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Everyday task sequences, such as cooking, contain overarching goals (completing the meal), sub-goals (preparing the vegetables), and motor actions (chopping). Such tasks can be considered hierarchical as superordinate levels (e.g., goals) affect performance at subordinate levels (e.g., sub-goals and motor actions). While we execute these hierarchically organized task sequences routinely, and the effects of practice on motor actions are well known, the specific effects of practice and the presence of simultaneous motor sequences on such task sequences remain unknown. To investigate these questions, we adapted a behavioral paradigm developed to investigate the hierarchical control of abstract, or non-motor, task sequences (Desrochers, Chatham, & Badre, 2015;Schneider & Logan, 2006). Using this paradigm, we dissociated effects at the level of the sequential goal, or abstract task sequence, at the level of the sub-goal or individual tasks, and at the motor sequence level. In three experiments, participants performed memorized abstract task sequences composed of simple tasks (e.g., color and shape judgements) that were practiced, novel, or contained embedded motor sequences. We found that abstract task sequence practice selectively reduced sequence initiation control costs, and that adding motor sequences further facilitated performance. Embedded motor sequences also reduced task level control costs at task switches. Manipulating which abstract task sequences were associated with embedded motor sequences provided support that the effects of embedded motor sequences are additive, and not the result of an integrated representation produced by practice. Together these experiments provide insight into the distinct roles of practice and motor processing in efficiently executing task sequences in daily life.

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Editorial: Multitasking: Executive Functioning in Dual-Task and Task Switching Situations

Cited by 47 publications

References 52 publications

Cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and work performance in non-clinical burnout: The role of working memory

Cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and work performance in non-clinical burnout: The role of working memory

Distinct Neural Mechanisms Meet Challenges in Dynamic Visual Attention due to Either Load or Object Spacing

Abstract sequential task control is facilitated by practice and embedded motor sequences

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