title: Cross-task compatibility and age-related dual-task performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: This study examined the effects of stimulus-stimulus and response-response cross-task compatibility and aging on dual-task performance. Hypothesis 1 predicted that the response code compatibility effect in both experiments would benefit older adults comparably to younger adults. Hypothesis 2 predicted that stimulus-stimulus compatibility would be additive to the effects of cross-task compatibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Younger and older adults participated in two dual-task experiments. Experiment 1 utilized a cross-task compatibility design identical to that of Koch and Prinz ( 2002 , Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 28, 192-201). Experiment 2 added a stimulus-stimulus compatibility condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of both experiments supported Hypothesis 1. Older adults displayed comparable cross-task compatibility effects to younger adults. The data did not support Hypothesis 2. The response-response compatibility effect from Experiment 1 was replicated, but the effect of stimulus-stimulus compatibility was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of both experiments showed that older adults were able to take advantage of cross-task compatibility as a task design to improve dual-task performance. The lack of stimulus-stimulus compatibility effects in Experiment 2 suggested that the benefit of task design may be limited in effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA. jgrab001@plattsburgh.edu
authors.forename: Jeremy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Grabbe
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult