title: Larger between-task crosstalk in children than in adults: Behavioral results from the backward crosstalk paradigm and a diffusion model analysis.
abstract: In dual-task settings, one can find influences from Task 2 processing even on Task 1 performance, an effect referred to as the backward crosstalk effect (BCE). The size of the BCE has been taken as an index of how well Task 1 processing can be shielded against concurrently ongoing Task 2 processes. In the current study, we compared the size of the BCE between adults and a group of 5- and 6-year-old children. First, the BCE turned out to be larger in children than in adults. Second, both groups exhibited a comparable adjustment of behavior in response to just experienced conflict; in both groups, the BCE was smaller following conflict trials than following no-conflict trials. Third, a diffusion model analysis suggests that the source for the BCE is different in adults than in children. In particular, not parallel Task 2 response activation appears to be the source of the BCE in children. Rather, non-decisional processes appear to be responsible for the BCE in this age group. Thus, this study shows that (a) 5- and 6-year-old children can perform dual-tasks, but (b) they show slightly larger signs of between-task crosstalk, and (c) the exact reasons for this appear to be different from those responsible in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: markus.janczyk@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Büschelberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Herbort
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 5- and 6-year-old children; Backward crosstalk; Diffusion model; Dual-tasking; Multitasking; PRP