Multitasking, working memory and remembering intentions

Abstract

We are grateful to Matthew Logie for undertaking the programming to create the EVET environment. We also are grateful to Fergus Craik for permission to use the Craik and Bialystock (2006) breakfast task in our research and to their programmer Perry Tohn for providing a copy of the programme and for help with its implementation in our laboratory. Multitasking refers to the performance of a range of tasks that have to be completed within a limited time period. it differs from dual task paradigms in that tasks are performed not in parallel, but by interleaving, switching from one to the other. it differs also from task switching paradigms in that the time scale is very much longer, multiple different tasks are involved, and most tasks have a clear end point. Multitasking has been studied extensively with particular sets of experts such as in aviation and in the military, and impairments of multitasking performance have been studied in patients with frontal lobe lesions. Much less is known as to how multitasking is achieved in healthy adults who have not had specific training in the necessary skills. This paper will provide a brief review of research on everyday multitasking, and summarise the results of some recent experiments on simulated everyday tasks chosen to require advance and on-line planning, retrospective memory, prospective memory, and visual, spatial and verbal short-term memory.The adult human mind is remarkably adept at selecting and implementing a wide range of mental functions for multiple interactions with the world. These interactions may be planned or spontaneous, but are constrained by physical and mental capacities or by time and the physical environment, often requiring multiple tasks or multi-part tasks. Successful implementation requires the efficient ordering or interleaving of tasks, and occasionally performing tasks in parallel. every-day examples are cooking a meal, a timelimited shopping trip, or completing a range of different office based tasks. Despite its ubiquitous everyday requirement, there is limited insight into how everyday multitasking is achieved by healthy adults and how performance might be constrained or enhanced. Key to multitasking success is the ability to draw on a wide range of cognitive functions acting in concert to achieve multiple goals or multi-layered goals. These widely varying and frequent demands on the whole cognitive system are in contrast to the majority of research on human cognition that tends to focus on individual cognitive functions in relative isolation, such as perception, attention, prospective memory, semantic and episodic memory or working memory.

Naturalistic assessment of everyday functioning in individuals with mild cognitive impairment: The day-out task.

“…The cognitive predictor variables represent three cognitive constructs prior research suggests play an essential role in multitasking (Burgess et al, 2000; Logie et al, 2010): retrospective memory, prospective memory and planning.…”

“…Prior research suggests that retrospective memory (i.e., learning and remembering of task contingencies), prospective memory (i.e., realization of delayed intentions) and planning represent three essential elements that are involved in multitasking (Burgess, Veitch, Costello, & Shallice, 2000; Logie et al, 2010). Furthermore, both planning and prospective memory are thought to draw upon the products of the retrospective memory resources (Burgess, 2000).…”

Naturalistic assessment of executive function and everyday multitasking in healthy older adults

“…Considered in these ways, findings suggest an age-related decline in multitasking abilities (see also Craik & Bialystok, 2006; Garden, Phillips, & MacPherson, 2001; Levine et al, 1998; Lin, Chan, Zheng, Yang, and Wang, 2007). Conversely, Logie, Law, Trawley, and Nissan (2010) described “everyday multitasking” as involving several distinct tasks with sub-goals, longer time scales with less crucial rapid and accurate response times, and individuals completing tasks in a certain order and switching as each task is completed (see also Burgess and Simons, 2005). Everyday multitasking differs from task-switching paradigms in that multiple tasks with clear end points are involved and time scales are much longer (Logie et al, 2010).…”

Memória prospectiva em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve

“…No estudo de Delprado et al (2013) As tarefas complexas da vida diária requer uma série de processos cognitivos que atuam em conjunto para atingir múltiplos objetivos ou metas (Logie et al 2010). Estudos sugerem que a memória retrospectiva, a memória prospectiva e a capacidade de planejamento representam três habilidades essenciais que estão envolvidas em situações cotidianas de multitarefa (Burgess et al, 2000;Logie et al, 2010).…”

“…Estudos sugerem que a memória retrospectiva, a memória prospectiva e a capacidade de planejamento representam três habilidades essenciais que estão envolvidas em situações cotidianas de multitarefa (Burgess et al, 2000;Logie et al, 2010). Os resultados de correlação confirmam uma associação significativa entre o desempenho em tarefa de memória prospectiva no cotidiano e as habilidades de planejamento e memória retrospectiva.…”