Introspection about backward crosstalk in dual-task performance

Bratzke, Daniel; Janczyk, Markus · 2020 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1007/s00426-019-01282-3

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Summary

This study investigates the extent to which individuals can introspectively detect backward crosstalk effects in dual-task performance, a phenomenon where response compatibility between two concurrent tasks influences reaction times (RTs) in both tasks. While previous research established that participants are typically unaware of the psychological refractory period (PRP) effect—a delay in Task 2 caused by temporal overlap with Task 1—this paper examines whether introspection is similarly limited regarding compatibility-based backward crosstalk (BCE) and its sequential modulations. The authors hypothesized that introspective abilities might vary depending on the specific nature of the dual-task interference. Two experiments were conducted using a compatibility-based dual-task paradigm. Participants performed Task 1 (manual key press based on letter identity) and Task 2 (pedal press based on letter color) with varying stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) of 50 ms (short) or 650 ms (long). In Experiment 1, participants provided introspective reaction time (IRT) estimates after every trial. In Experiment 2, IRTs were collected only after every second trial (test trials), with the preceding trial serving as a prime, to assess sequential modulations of the BCE more robustly. Both experiments involved 32 participants each, with data analyzed via ANOVAs focusing on objective RTs, error rates, and IRTs. The results demonstrated that objective performance exhibited the standard BCE and its sequential modulation, where RTs were faster for compatible responses and influenced by the compatibility of the previous trial. Crucially, IRTs accurately reflected these objective patterns. Unlike typical findings for the PRP effect, participants were aware of the BCE and its modulation by SOA. In Experiment 1, IRTs mirrored the objective BCE and its dependence on current trial compatibility, though they failed to capture the sequential modulation based on the previous trial’s compatibility. Experiment 2, which minimized disruption between trials, revealed that IRTs successfully captured the sequential modulation of the BCE, particularly at short SOAs. However, introspection remained limited in other areas; for instance, IRTs in Experiment 2 did not reflect the objective SOA effect on Task 1 RTs, and introspective sensitivity for the PRP effect in Task 2 was significantly lower than for compatibility effects. These findings indicate that introspection in dual-task performance is neither uniformly blind nor perfectly accurate. Participants possess a surprising ability to introspect about between-task crosstalk and its temporal dependencies, contrasting with the well-documented unawareness of the PRP effect. This suggests that the "unified attentional bottleneck" theory, which posits a general lack of conscious access to central processing delays, may require refinement. The study concludes that introspective accuracy depends on the specific type of processing interference, with compatibility-based effects being more accessible to conscious judgment than pure temporal overlap effects.

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• dual task multitasking