scholarly journals Temporal predictability does not impact attentional blink performance: effects of fixed vs. random inter-trial intervals

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucienne Shenfield ◽  
Vanessa Beanland ◽  
Deborah Apthorp
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Attentional Blink ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
Inter Trial Interval ◽  
Temporal Predictability

Background Does the inclusion of a randomized inter-trial interval (ITI) impact performance on an Attentional Blink (AB) task? The AB phenomenon is often used as a test of transient attention (Dux & Marois, 2009); however, it is unclear whether incorporating aspects of sustained attention, by implementing a randomized ITI, would impact task performance. The current research sought to investigate this, by contrasting a standard version of the AB task with a random ITI version to determine whether performance changed, reflecting a change in difficulty, engagement, or motivation. Method Thirty university students (21 female; age range 18–57, Mage= 21.5, SD = 7.4) completed both versions of the task, in counterbalanced order. Results No significant difference in performance was found between the standard AB task and the AB task with the random ITI. Bayesian analyses suggested moderate evidence for the null. Conclusion Temporal unpredictability did not appear to impact task performance. This suggests that the standard AB task has cognitive properties with regards to task difficulty, engagement, and motivation, that are inherently similar to tasks that employ a randomized ITI to measure sustained attention (e.g., the Psychomotor Vigilance Task; PVT; Dinges & Powell, 1985). This finding provides important support for future research which may seek to obtain a more detailed understanding of attention through the comparison of performance on transient and sustained attention tasks.

Temporal predictability does not impact attentional blink performance: Effects of fixed vs. random inter-trial intervals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Apthorp ◽  
Lucienne Shenfield ◽  
Vanessa Beanland
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Attentional Blink ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
Inter Trial Interval ◽  
Temporal Predictability

Background: Does the inclusion of a randomised inter-trial interval (ITI) impact performance on an Attentional Blink (AB) task? The AB phenomenon is often used as a test of transient attention (Dux & Marois, 2009); however, it is unclear whether incorporating aspects of sustained attention, by implementing a randomised ITI, would impact task performance. The current research sought to investigate this, by contrasting a standard version of the AB task with a random ITI version to determine whether a performance change, reflecting a change in difficulty, engagement, or motivation. Method: 30 university students (21 female; age range 18-57, Mage = 21.5, SD = 7.4) completed both versions of the task, in counterbalanced order. Results: No significant difference in performance was found between the standard AB task and the AB task with the random ITI. Conclusion: Temporal unpredictability did not appear to impact task performance. This suggests that the standard AB task has cognitive properties with regards to task difficulty, engagement, and motivation, that are inherently similar to tasks which employ a randomized ITI to measure sustained attention (i.e. the Psychomotor Vigilance Task; PVT; Dinges & Powell, 1985). This finding provides important support for future research which may seek to obtain a more detailed understanding of attention through the comparison of performance on transient and sustained attention tasks.

scholarly journals Performance, Movement, Posture, and Perceived Discomfort in Active vs. Static Seating

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1154-1158
Author(s):  
Jeremy D. Faulk ◽  
Cameron C. McKee ◽  
Heather Bazille ◽  
Michael Brigham ◽  
Jasmine Daniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Trunk Movement ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Static Conditions

Active seating designs may enable users to move more frequently, thereby decreasing physiological risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. In this preliminary study, two active seating designs (QOR360, Ariel; QOR360, Newton) were compared to a static chair (Herman Miller, Aeron) to understand how active vs. static seating may affect task performance, movement, posture, and perceived discomfort. This within-subjects experiment involved n = 11 student participants who sat upon each of the three chairs for 20 minutes while performing a series of computer-based tasks. Participants showed increased trunk movement while also reporting higher levels of perceived discomfort in the two active chair conditions. There was no significant difference in either posture or fine motor task performance between the active and static conditions. Future research may benefit from additional physiological measurements along with a wider variety of tasks that require seated users to make postural adjustments.

scholarly journals Multiple Neuronal Networks Mediate Sustained Attention

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1028-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia S. Lawrence ◽  
Thomas J. Ross ◽  
Ray Hoffmann ◽  
Hugh Garavan ◽  
Elliot A. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Neural Substrates ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
The Neural Networks ◽  
Task Irrelevant

Sustained attention deficits occur in several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are still incompletely understood. To that end, functional MRI was used to investigate the neural substrates of sustained attention (vigilance) using the rapid visual information processing (RVIP) task in 25 healthy volunteers. In order to better understand the neural networks underlying attentional abilities, brain regions where task-induced activation correlated with task performance were identified. Performance of the RVIP task activated a network of frontal, parietal, occipital, thalamic, and cerebellar regions. Deactivation during task performance was seen in the anterior and posterior cingulate, insula, and the left temporal and parahippocampal gyrus. Good task performance, as defined by better detection of target stimuli, was correlated with enhanced activation in predominantly right fronto-parietal regions and with decreased activation in predominantly left temporo-limbic and cingulate areas. Factor analysis revealed that these performance-correlated regions were grouped into two separate networks comprised of positively activated and negatively activated intercorrelated regions. Poor performers failed to significantly activate or deactivate these networks, whereas good performers either activated the positive or deactivated the negative network, or did both. The fact that both increased activation of task-specific areas and increased deactivation of task-irrelevant areas mediate cognitive functions underlying good RVIP task performance suggests two independent circuits, presumably reflecting different cognitive strategies, can be recruited to perform this vigilance task.

Independent Coactors May Improve Performance and Lower Workload: Viewing Vigilance Under Social Facilitation

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 822-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria L. Claypoole ◽  
James L. Szalma
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Social Facilitation ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Future Research ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Motivational Interventions ◽  
Perceived Workload

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of an independent coactor on vigilance task performance. It was hypothesized that the presence of an independent coactor would improve performance in terms of the proportion of false alarms while also increasing perceived workload and stress. Background: Vigilance, or the ability to maintain attention for extended periods, is of great interest to human factors psychologists. Substantial work has focused on improving vigilance task performance, typically through motivational interventions. Of interest to vigilance researchers is the application of social facilitation as a means of enhancing vigilance. Social facilitation seeks to explain how social presence may improve performance. Method: A total of 100 participants completed a 24-min vigil either alone or in the presence of an independent (confederate) coactor. Participants completed measures of perceived workload and stress. Results: The results indicated that performance (i.e., proportion of false alarms) was improved for those who completed the vigil in the presence of an independent coactor. Interestingly, perceived workload was actually lower for those who completed the vigil in the presence of an independent coactor, although perceived stress was not affected by the manipulation. Conclusion: Authors of future research should extend these findings to other forms of social facilitation and examine vigilance task performance in social contexts in order to determine the utility of social presence for improving vigilance. Application: The use of coactors may be an avenue for organizations to consider utilizing to improve performance because of its relative cost-effectiveness and easy implementation.

Current state of worker fatigue assessment and associated recommendations in oil and gas and petrochemical industries

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 1593-1597
Author(s):  
John Kang ◽  
Farzan Sasangohar ◽  
Ranjana K. Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fatigue Assessment ◽  
Current State ◽  
Standard Set ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

Oil and gas extraction (OGE) and petrochemical workers are prone to fatigue due to shiftwork, circadian rhythm disruption, and workload. Currently, there is not a standard set of worker fatigue assessment methods developed to address the constraints in this industry. A systematic review was conducted to 1) identify and categorize fatigue assessment methods, 2) compare the effectiveness of identified methods, and 3) provide recommendations for use in this industry and future research. A total of 20 articles were selected for this review. The findings show that studies used subjective questionnaires (100%), task performance (35%), and physiological measurements (5%) as main fatigue assessment methods. Subjective questionnaires (measuring sleepiness and sleep quality), actigraphy, and task performance were effective at capturing fatigue levels. Finally, this review recommends that subjective questionnaires be employed to assess worker fatigue and supplement them with objective measurements, such as actigraphy (sleep quality) and Psychomotor Vigilance Task (task performance).

Speeded Paper-Pencil Sustained Attention and Mental Speed Tests

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Krumm ◽  
Lothar Schmidt-Atzert ◽  
Kurt Michalczyk ◽  
Vanessa Danthiir
Keyword(s):  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Perceptual Speed ◽  
Speed Factor ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Task Processing ◽  
Order Factor

Mental speed (MS) and sustained attention (SA) are theoretically distinct constructs. However, tests of MS are very similar to SA tests that use time pressure as an impeding condition. The performance in such tasks largely relies on the participants’ speed of task processing (i.e., how quickly and correctly one can perform the simple cognitive tasks). The present study examined whether SA and MS are empirically the same or different constructs. To this end, 24 paper-pencil and computerized tests were administered to 199 students. SA turned out to be highly related to MS task classes: substitution and perceptual speed. Furthermore, SA showed a very close relationship with the paper-pencil MS factor. The correlation between SA and computerized speed was considerably lower but still high. In a higher-order general speed factor model, SA had the highest loading on the higher-order factor; the higher-order factor explained 88% of SA variance. It is argued that SA (as operationalized with tests using time pressure as an impeding condition) and MS cannot be differentiated, at the level of broad constructs. Implications for neuropsychological assessment and future research are discussed.

Relative Importance of Leader Influences for Subordinates’ Proactive Behaviors, Prosocial Behaviors, and Task Performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan S. Chiaburu ◽  
Troy A. Smith ◽  
Jiexin Wang ◽  
Ryan D. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Contingent Reward ◽  
Work Effectiveness ◽  
Leader Influence ◽  
Member Exchange ◽  
Proactive Behaviors ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
Transactional Leader

We meta-analytically examine the relationships between three forms of leader influence, contingent reward (transactional), leader-member exchange (LMX; relational), and transformational (change-oriented) on subordinates’ proactive behaviors. Using non-self-reported data from a combined sample of more than 9,000 employees, we confirm positive relationships between leader influences and employee proactive outcomes. We examine the extent to which one leadership influence is stronger than the others in promoting subordinate proactivity. By combining our new meta-analytic data with existing meta-analytic correlations, we further investigate the extent to which various leadership predictors are differentially related to proactive and prosocial contextual performance, and to task performance. For all outcomes, there are only minimal differences between the contingent reward, LMX, and transformational leadership predictors. Using our results, we propose future research directions for the relationship between leader influences and subordinate work effectiveness.

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