University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Modeling cognitive load effects of conversation between a passenger and driver

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 04:56 authored by Tillman, G, Strayer, D, Eidels, A, Heathcote, A
Cognitive load from secondary tasks is a source of distraction causing injuries and fatalities on the roadway. The Detection Response Task (DRT) is an international standard for assessing cognitive load on drivers’ attention that can be performed as a secondary task with little to no measurable effect on the primary driving task. We investigated whether decrements in DRT performance were related to the rate of information processing, levels of response caution, or the non-decision processing of drivers. We had pairs of participants take part in the DRT while performing a simulated driving task, manipulated cognitive load via the conversation between driver and passenger, and observed associated slowing in DRT response time. Fits of the single-bound diffusion model indicated that slowing was mediated by an increase in response caution. We propose the novel hypothesis that, rather than the DRT’s sensitivity to cognitive load being a direct result of a loss of information processing capacity to other tasks, it is an indirect result of a general tendency to be more cautious when making responses in more demanding situations.

History

Publication title

Attention Perception & Psychophysics

Volume

79

Issue

6

Pagination

1795-1803

ISSN

1943-3921

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Springer New York LLC

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

© The Psychonomic Society, Inc. 2017

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in psychology

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC