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Goodness takes effort: perceptual organization in dual-task settings

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Abstract

We adopted the Psychological Refractoriness Paradigm to study whether perceptual Goodness affects the load of central processing resources. In three dual-task experiments, 2-Alternative Forced Choice auditory classification was followed by a same–different task in which Garner’s classical five-dot patterns were presented. Goodness of these patterns and stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) between the first and second task were varied between trials. These factors had additive effects on response latencies and accuracy, indicating that pattern Goodness determines central processing load in performing the same–different task. In a fourth experiment, same–different judgment with Garner patterns was the single task. SOA between the first and second pattern was varied. Over-additive effects of Goodness with decreasing SOA were obtained, indicating sharing of central resources between consolidation of the first Garner pattern and performing the same–different task. Whereas, the resources needed for the latter, again, depend on Goodness, those needed for consolidation are independent of it.

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Notes

  1. It was shown that in addition to response-selection, at least parts of the encoding stage require central capacity in certain conditions (Jolicoeur & Dell’ Acqua, 1998).

  2. Van Selst and Jolicoeur (1994) found under-additive interaction of mental rotation and SOA and concluded that at least some of the orientation-sensitive processes can operate in parallel with central processes of the first task.

  3. Only data entered the analysis of which RT met the following criterion: (RT < [μis+3σis|145 ms < RT< general speed criterion]) & (RT > [μ + 1.5σ|145 ms < RT < general speed criterion]), with μis = mean and σis = standard deviation of RT for the ith participant on the sth session and μ = mean and σ = standard deviation of RT, general speed criterion = 1,000 ms for the first task and 2,000 ms for the second task.

  4. For model fit, instead of β (R 2), we used the parameter R 2 adj = adjusted R 2 for low degree of freedom = R 2 − ([1 − R 2] a)/(b– a*), with a = number of independent variables; b = sum of case weights; a* = number of coefficients (including intercept). R 2 adj is displayed when R 2 differs, i.e., when the significance is higher for R 2.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grant La 1281/2-1 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) to Thomas Lachmann. Many thanks are due to Krisztin Pataki (TU Berlin), Annett Geiler, Kristin Neumann, and Karsten Zander (University of Leipzig) for technical support and to Peter Frensch, Mike Tombu and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Bamberg, Markusplatz 3, 96045, Bamberg, Germany

    Thomas Lachmann

  2. Laboratory for Perceptual Dynamics, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako-Shi, Japan

    Thomas Lachmann & Cees van Leeuwen

  3. University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK

    Cees van Leeuwen

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  1. Thomas Lachmann
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  2. Cees van Leeuwen
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Correspondence to Thomas Lachmann.

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Lachmann, T., Leeuwen, C.v. Goodness takes effort: perceptual organization in dual-task settings. Psychological Research 71, 152–169 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-005-0001-y

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