The effects of type and workload of internal tasks on voluntary saccades in a target-distractor saccade task.

ABSTRACT: When we engage in internally directed cognition, like doing mental arithmetic or mind wandering, fewer cognitive resources are assigned for other activities like reacting to perceptual input-an effect termed perceptual decoupling. However, the exact conditions under which perceptual decoupling occurs and its underlying cognitive mechanisms are still unclear. Hence, the present study systematically manipulated the task type (arithmetic, visuospatial) and workload (control, low, high) of the internal task in a within-subject design and tested its effects on voluntary saccades in a target-distractor saccade task. As expected, engagement in internal tasks delayed saccades to the target. This effect was moderated by time, task, and workload: The delay was largest right after internal task onset

SUBMITTER: Walcher S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10449167 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature