Consequences of predictable temporal structure in multi-task situations.

ABSTRACT: In everyday life, we often anticipate the timing of an upcoming task or event while actively engaging in another. Here, we investigated the effects of predictable temporal structure within such a multi-task scenario. In a visual working-memory task, we manipulated whether the onset of a working-memory probe could be predicted in time, while also embedding a simple intervening task within the delay period. We first show that working-memory performance benefitted from temporal expectations, even though an intervening task had to be completed in the interim. Moreover, temporal predictions regarding the upcoming working-memory probe additionally affected performance on the intervening task, resulting in faster responses when the memory probe was expected early, and slower responses when the me

SUBMITTER: Gresch D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9760566 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature