On the temporal dynamics of reward utilization in dual-task situations

langsdorf, leif erik; Schubert, Torsten · 2025 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3758/s13414-025-03058-x

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Summary

This study investigates the temporal dynamics of reward utilization in dual-task (DT) situations, specifically addressing whether participants can flexibly use trial-by-trial reward cues to optimize performance and whether this optimization extends beyond standard temporal preparation. Previous research established that block-wise reward prospects improve DT performance, but it remained unclear if rapid, trial-specific reward information could similarly enhance processing or if such improvements were merely a function of preparation time. The authors aimed to determine if reward utilization improves with increasing preparatory intervals and if it adds to preparation-related gains. The researchers conducted two experiments using a psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm involving auditory and visual choice reaction time tasks. In Experiment 1, 25 participants performed DT trials with cue–target intervals (CTIs) of either 200 ms or 700 ms, presented in blocks to ensure temporal predictability. A cue signaled whether the current trial was reward-relevant. Experiment 2 replicated this design but randomized CTIs within blocks to reduce temporal predictability. In both experiments, participants could earn monetary rewards for fast and accurate Task 1 performance while maintaining low error rates on Task 2. Reaction times (RTs) and error rates were analyzed using ANOVA and distributional analyses to assess the effects of reward, CTI, and stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA). The results demonstrated that participants successfully utilized trial-wise reward information, showing significantly reduced RT1 in reward conditions compared to no-reward conditions. Crucially, the magnitude of the reward effect increased with longer CTIs; the RT1 improvement was larger in the 700 ms condition than in the 200 ms condition. This pattern held true in Experiment 2 despite reduced temporal predictability, confirming that flexible reward utilization is robust. Furthermore, reward effects propagated to Task 2, with larger improvements observed at short SOAs, consistent with the central bottleneck model. Distributional analyses indicated that reward prospect particularly optimized the right tail of the RT distribution, suggesting enhanced processing during trials with longer reaction times. These findings conclude that participants can flexibly utilize reward information on a trial-by-trial basis to improve DT performance. Importantly, the study reveals that reward utilization is not solely a preparation-related mechanism; rather, it provides an additional optimization process that scales with the duration of the preparatory interval. This challenges the assumption that reward effects are limited to preparation improvements, suggesting instead that reward prospect engages distinct cognitive mechanisms that enhance information processing efficiency, particularly when sufficient time is available for mobilization.

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• task switching