The vigilance decrement: its first 75 years

Klein, Raymond M.; Feltmate, Brett B. T. · 2025 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.3389/fcogn.2025.1632885

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Summary

This review paper by Klein and Feltmate (2025) examines the historical evolution of research on the vigilance decrement—the decline in target detection probability as time on task increases—over its first 75 years. Motivated by the significant applied implications of sustained attention failures in fields such as road safety, radiology, and air-traffic control, the authors aim to clarify the nature of this decrement. The review focuses primarily on the application of signal detection theory (SDT) to distinguish whether performance declines are caused by a reduction in sensory sensitivity ($d'$), a conservative shift in decision criterion ($\beta$), or both. The authors trace the literature from Mackworth’s foundational 1948 studies, which established the robustness of the decrement, through the mid-20th century when SDT was introduced to the field. Early interpretations, notably by Broadbent, suggested that the decrement resulted from a shift in response criterion rather than a loss of sensitivity, particularly in low event-rate tasks. However, conflicting evidence emerged immediately; for instance, Mackworth and Taylor (1963) demonstrated significant declines in sensitivity using continuous-clock tasks, while Broadbent and Gregory (1963, 1965) found no such decline in auditory and visual tasks with lower response rates. The review highlights that this discrepancy persisted through the 1970s, with scholars like Swets and Kristofferson categorizing studies into those showing sensitivity decrements and those that did not. Key findings indicate that the cause of the vigilance decrement is not uniform but depends heavily on task characteristics, particularly event rate and signal probability. The authors note that early theories suggested criterion shifts dominate at slow event rates, while sensitivity declines become more pronounced as event rates increase. However, the contribution of sensitivity declines has been challenged in recent decades due to low false-alarm rates in many studies and the possibility that observers simply stop attending to the signal source. The review emphasizes that the absence of responses during a vigil can stem from a lack of orienting (overt or covert attention) rather than just decisional changes, a factor that is difficult to distinguish from criterion shifts within standard SDT frameworks. The significance of this review lies in its synthesis of nearly three-quarters of a century of research to provide a nuanced understanding of vigilance failures. By contrasting early conflicting findings and highlighting the role of attention and orienting alongside sensitivity and criterion, the authors offer recommendations for future research. They argue for a more precise formulation of theories and suggest that understanding the specific conditions under which sensitivity versus criterion shifts occur is crucial for developing effective countermeasures in high-stakes monitoring environments. The paper concludes that while the vigilance decrement is a well-established phenomenon, its underlying mechanisms remain complex and context-dependent.

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Topics

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• vigilance
• sustained attention vigilance
• signal detection theory
• inattentional change blindness