Electrophysiological investigation of dual-task interference

了解多任务在正常人类信息处理中的局限性是心理学和神经科学中的一个关键课题。它不仅帮助我们定义了我们作为人类一次能做什么和不能做什么，而且还打开了一扇迷人的窗户，让我们了解我们认知系统的功能架构。在实验室中，有两种简单的范式被广泛用于研究双重任务表现：心理不应期范式和注意瞬脱范式。在这个研究项目中进行的工作将利用最近发展起来的强大的电生理技术来研究多任务干扰，以便彻底调查这两个范例中的双重任务限制。 与流行的双任务干扰理论相反，最近使用事件相关电位技术结合心理不应期发现，第一个加速的听觉任务干扰了随后视觉目标的早期知觉加工。我们将研究这种早期干扰是否由于中央能力限制、空间转移、感觉通道转换或任务转换而产生。我们还将使用类似的方法来研究几个过程，如情绪处理和错误检测，是否需要中央注意力资源。 虽然中央能力限制是心理顽固性双重任务干扰理论的核心，但它在注意瞬脱现象中的作用仍在争论中。在该项目中，我们还将调查中央能力限制、分心干扰和错误选择在注意力眨眼中的作用。 这项研究将为开发双重任务绩效的全球模型提供有价值的信息，这将有助于构思更适合的人机界面和技术，而这反过来又将促进对我们经常不堪重负的环境中所包含的相关信息的处理。

Understanding multitasking limitations in normal human information processing is a key topic in psychology and the neurosciences. It not only helps us define what we, as human beings, can and cannot do at one time, but it also opens a fascinating window into the functional architecture of our cognitive system. Two simple paradigms have been widely used to study dual-task performance in the laboratory: the psychological refractory period paradigm and the attentional blink paradigm. The work conducted within this program of research will take advantage of powerful electrophysiological techniques recently developed to study multitasking interference in order to investigate thoroughly dual-task limitations within these two paradigms. Contrary to what was claimed by prevalent theories of dual-task interference, it has recently been discovered, using the event-related potential technique in combination with the psychological refractory period, that a first speeded auditory task interfers with early perceptual processing of a subsequent visual target. We will examine whether this early interference arises because of central capacity limitations, spatial shifts, sensory modality switching, or task switching. We will also use a similar approach to study whether several processes, such as emotional processing and error detection, require central attention resources. Whereas central capacity limitations are at the core of most extent theories of psychological refractory dual-task interference, its role in the attentional blink phenomenon is still under debate. Within the program, we will also investigate the role of central capacity limitations, distractor interference and misselection in the attentional blink. This research will provide valuable information for the development of a global model of dual-task performance that will help conceive better adapted human-machine interfaces and technologies which, in turn, will facilitate processing of the relevant information contained in our often overwhelming environment.