Central information processing in dual task performance

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Why is it so difficult to do two things at once? Many researchers have converged on the idea that a limitation in central cognitive processing is responsible, with most evidence over the last twenty years pointing to a strict limitation, or bottleneck, in the process of response selection. In contrast with these conventional findings, recent research in dual task performance has suggested that response information for two tasks can be produced in parallel, breaking this single-task limit in central cognitive processing. This research proposal examines these recent findings to test the extent to which this parallel operation of typically one-at-a-time central processes can occur. By understanding how our brains pay attention to and perform two tasks at the same time, we can make better decisions about everyday situations (such as driving while talking on the phone), and apply this knowledge to help us understand what goes wrong in disorders of attention (e.g. Attention Deficit Disorder).