Is Semantic Vigilance Impaired by Narrative Memory Demands? Theory and Applications

Abstract

Objective: Two verbal tasks were utilized in a dual-task paradigm to explore performance theories and prior dual-tasking results. Background: Both the decline in vigilance performance over time, or vigilance decrement, and limited dual-tasking ability may be explained by limited mental resources. Resource theorists would recommend removing task demands to avoid cognitive overload, while mindlessness theorists may recommend adding engaging task demands to prevent boredom. Prior research demonstrated interference between a verbal free recall and semantic vigilance task, but exploring tasks with greater ecological validity is necessary. Method: A narrative memory task and semantic vigilance task were performed individually and simultaneously. Relative performance impairments were compared to a previous dual-task pairing. Results: The semantic vigilance task caused performance degradation to the narrative memory task and vice versa. A vigilance decrement was not observed, and the interference was to a lesser extent than when the semantic vigilance task was paired with a free recall task. Conclusion: Resource theory was supported, though passive learning effects during a semantic vigilance task with novel stimuli may prevent a vigilance decrement. The interference was less than that of a previous similar dual-task pairing, but even tasks as routine as listening to a conversation or story can impair other task performance. Application: A better understanding of resource theory and dual-task performance outcomes can help inform feasible task loads and improve efficiency and safety of operators in high-risk and other professions.

Real Life Does Not Always Get in the Way: Verbal Memory and the Sustained Attention to Response Task

“…Two audio scenarios, presenting a simulation of people involved in a building fire, were designed to be audio equivalents of visual scenarios that were successfully developed and tested for prior situation awareness research (Catherwood, Edgar, & Sallis, 2012). Audio tracks were each five minutes in length, and had 24 associated true/false probe statements to test participants' memory (for details, see Epling et al, 2019). To listen to scenarios, participants wore over the ear headphones throughout the experiment.…”

“…It is worth noting that the verbal memory task used in both studies above required participants listen to and later freely recall a list of discrete, unrelated words, which has minimal ecological validity. In response to a similar problem in their own research, Epling and colleagues developed a narrative memory task, said to be more applicable to real world demands (Epling, Blakely, Edgar, Russell, & Helton 2018;2019). Unlike a free recall task, understanding verbal cues from an individual's surroundings or remembering the gist of a conversation could be very important in real-world situations (Epling, Blakely, et al, 2018): poor comprehension or failed memory of a situation or conversation can lead to accidents or mistakes (Edgar & Edgar 2007).…”

The effects of varying music tempo on vigilance performance and affective state

“…In addition to the decline in performance, vigilance tasks are associated with a decline in operator engagement and arousal, and high mental workload (Epling et al, 2019;Smith et al, 2021, Warm et al, 2008. One theory behind why these decrements are observed in vigilance research so consistently, the Cognitive Resource Theory, poses that there are renewable wells of cognitive resources that get drained at a rate faster than they can be replenished due to the high workload of the task (Davies & Parasuraman, 1982;Neigel et al, 2020).…”

If You’re Happy and You Know it Stay Alert: The Effects of Lighting on Vigilance Performance and Affective State

“…Many vigilance experiments have been conducted in dimly lit laboratories (Dillard et al, 2019, Epling et al, 2019Funke et al, 2012;Greenlee et al, 2016;Neubauer et al, 2013;Smith et al, 2021), and this could impact participant alertness or arousal. Exposure to light plays an important role in circadian rhythm regulation through the suppression of melatonin -the hormone responsible for inducing sleep (Lehrl et al, 2007).…”