Working memory involvement in dual-task performance: evidence from the backward compatibility effect.
In three experiments, the authors supported the hypothesis that parallel response activation seen in dual-task performance results from holding Task 2 rules in working memory (WM) while performing Task 1. To this end, the authors used the backward compatibility effect (BCE; quicker primary responses when the Task 2 response is compatible with codes of Task 1) as a marker for parallel response activation and manipulated WM load. Increasing the number of primary task rules from two to four did not modulate BCE, replicating Hommel and Eglau (2002), but a higher load condition, involving six primary task rules, reduced the BCE to nonsignificant levels. Experiment 3 further showed that WM is loaded by rules associating abstract stimulus categories to responses, and not by rules that associate individual stimuli to responses (S-R rules).
Ellenbogen
Ravid
R
Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. ravidel@bgu.ac.il
Meiran
Nachshon
N
D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time