Unilateral Presentation Paradigm in Psychophysical Tasks: Capability and Limitations of Resource Approach А.Gusev, I.Utochkin.

Unilateral Presentation Paradigm in Unilateral Presentation Paradigm in Psychophysical Tasks: Psychophysical Tasks:

Capability and Limitations Capability and Limitations of Resource Approachof Resource Approach

А.А.GusevGusev, , I.UtochkinI.Utochkin

Daniel Kahneman (1973). Monograph “Attention and Effort”:The first detailed elaboration inResource Approach

D. Kahneman – Nobel Prize in Economy, 2002

Concept of Resource in contemporary Concept of Resource in contemporary Cognitive Science (two aspects)Cognitive Science (two aspects)

1.1. Resource as descriptive metaphor: an Resource as descriptive metaphor: an illustration of limited capacity in illustration of limited capacity in information processing.information processing.

2.2. Resource as theoretical concept: a Resource as theoretical concept: a principle of explanation of limited principle of explanation of limited capacity in information processing.capacity in information processing.

Resource as theoretical conceptResource as theoretical concept

Task 5

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Subtask 4

Subtask 3

Subtask 5

Subtask 1

Subtask 2

TaskOR

OR

Arousal

Controlling mechanism

(Allocation Policy)

Factors determining task priority

Energetic task demands

How much Resource is at one’s disposal?

What tasks demand Resource (attention)

first of all?

How much Resource is to be allocated to a

task?

Resource

““Demons” of Resource ApproachDemons” of Resource Approach

1. Confusion of the descriptive and explanatory 1. Confusion of the descriptive and explanatory aspects of Resouraspects of Resourссe e -- vicious circle.vicious circle.

E.g.: Pashler H.(1999).E.g.: Pashler H.(1999).

“… “… capacity is limited because Capacity is limited” capacity is limited because Capacity is limited” (Neumann, 1987)(Neumann, 1987)

“… “… attention influences attention” (Taylor, Klein, attention influences attention” (Taylor, Klein, 1998)1998)

2. Introducing 2. Introducing infinitely manyinfinitely many specific resources to specific resources to explain new results explain new results - vicious - vicious infinitinfinity.y.

E.g.: Wickens C. D. (1984). E.g.: Wickens C. D. (1984).

Resource and alternative principles for explanation Resource and alternative principles for explanation of information processing limitationsof information processing limitations

Resource and Data limited processing (Norman & Resource and Data limited processing (Norman & Bobrow, 1975)Bobrow, 1975)Cognitive schemes (Neisser, 1976)Cognitive schemes (Neisser, 1976)Levels of processing (Craik & Lockhart, 1972)Levels of processing (Craik & Lockhart, 1972)Functional system or organ (Ukhtomski, 1978; Functional system or organ (Ukhtomski, 1978; Anokhin, 1978; Leontiev, 1959)Anokhin, 1978; Leontiev, 1959)Attentional networks (Posner, Raichle, 1994)Attentional networks (Posner, Raichle, 1994)

All of these concepts emphasize idea of functional All of these concepts emphasize idea of functional re-organization of task performance system.re-organization of task performance system.

Typical Domain of Resource approachTypical Domain of Resource approach

Tasks involving the following factors: Tasks involving the following factors: Arousal dynamicsArousal dynamicsTask difficultyTask difficulty

Typical “Resource” research paradigms:Typical “Resource” research paradigms:Dual-task paradigmDual-task paradigmVigilance tasksVigilance tasksPsychological refractory periodPsychological refractory period

Resource Resource andand Asymmetry AsymmetryWe suppose that research of brain asymmetry We suppose that research of brain asymmetry allows:allows: to clear the contribution of energetic (resource) to clear the contribution of energetic (resource) and functional mechanisms of task performance.and functional mechanisms of task performance.Friedman (1981) vs Luria (1973); Kinsbourne (1970) vs Friedman (1981) vs Luria (1973); Kinsbourne (1970) vs Kimura (1961)Kimura (1961)

to clear the contribution of unitary (central) or to clear the contribution of unitary (central) or multiple (hemisphere specific) resource into multiple (hemisphere specific) resource into mechanisms of task performancemechanisms of task performanceFriedman (1981) & Davidson (1998) vs Luria (1973)Friedman (1981) & Davidson (1998) vs Luria (1973)

Objectives of ExperimentObjectives of Experiment

1.1. Investigate an influence of Task Difficulty on Investigate an influence of Task Difficulty on Task Performance and Manifestations of Brain Task Performance and Manifestations of Brain Asymmetry.Asymmetry.

2.2. Investigate an influence of Arousal on Task Investigate an influence of Arousal on Task Performance and Manifestations of Brain Performance and Manifestations of Brain Asymmetry.Asymmetry.

MethodsMethods83 right-handed participants83 right-handed participantsSignal Detection ParadigmSignal Detection ParadigmUnilateral presentation of tonal signal on noise Unilateral presentation of tonal signal on noise background, “yes-no” methodbackground, “yes-no” methodFactor 1: Difficulty of signal detection task – TD (3 Factor 1: Difficulty of signal detection task – TD (3 levels, 260 trials per level)levels, 260 trials per level)Factor 2: Self-report Arousal (Energetic and Tense Factor 2: Self-report Arousal (Energetic and Tense Arousal: Thayer,1968)Arousal: Thayer,1968)Dependent variables: RT, sdRT, P(hit), A`, Yes-rate; Dependent variables: RT, sdRT, P(hit), A`, Yes-rate; Lateral indexesLateral indexes of RT, sdRT, P(hit), A` and Yes-rateof RT, sdRT, P(hit), A` and Yes-rate

Energetic Arousal

Tense Arousal

Thayer, 1968

1 3

2 4

General Arousal (GA)

Results: effect of TD on Lateral indexes*Results: effect of TD on Lateral indexes*

* - the same tendency is for sdRT, P(hit) and Yes-rate

F=14.00; p<0.001

Results: effects of TDResults: effects of TDGA on P(hit)*GA on P(hit)*

F=2.73; p=0.04

EasyModerateDifficult

* - the similar tendency is for A`

Results: effects of TDResults: effects of TDGA on sdRTGA on sdRT

EasyModerateDifficult

F=3.05; p=0.03

Results: effects of TDResults: effects of TDGA on Lateral GA on Lateral indexesindexes

EasyModerateDifficult

F=2.88; p=0.04

Discussion Discussion 1. Ear asymmetry increases with task difficulty:1. Ear asymmetry increases with task difficulty:

Resource interpretationResource interpretation Functional interpretationFunctional interpretationThe increment may be a sign of The increment may be a sign of hemispheric resource allocation.hemispheric resource allocation.

The increment may be a sign of The increment may be a sign of involvement of some involvement of some hemisphere-specific mechanism hemisphere-specific mechanism into task performance. into task performance.

2. Efficiency of task performance and performance asymmetry reveal non-linear (Yerkes-Dodson-like) relation to arousal variations:

Resource interpretationResource interpretation Functional interpretationFunctional interpretationOptimally aroused Ss have Optimally aroused Ss have sufficient resource and allocate it sufficient resource and allocate it optimally.optimally.

Redundant.Redundant.

Discussion

3.Non-linear (Yerkes-Dodson-like) effect of arousal takes place only in moderately difficult task.

Resource interpretationResource interpretation Functional interpretationFunctional interpretation1. Easy task demands little or no 1. Easy task demands little or no effort (Posner & Snyder, 1975).effort (Posner & Snyder, 1975).

2. Difficult (threshold) task is 2. Difficult (threshold) task is typical data-limited task so it typical data-limited task so it can`t be perfectly resolved by can`t be perfectly resolved by only additional resource only additional resource involvement.involvement.

1. Easy task may be resolved with 1. Easy task may be resolved with extremely simplified or reduced extremely simplified or reduced functional system.functional system.

2. Difficult task requires 2. Difficult task requires involvement of extended involvement of extended functional system and/or its functional system and/or its reorganizing, e.g., searching reorganizing, e.g., searching adequate cognitive strategies.adequate cognitive strategies.

General conclusionsGeneral conclusions

1.1. Resource Approach predominantly Resource Approach predominantly “works” in arousal-dependent tasks.“works” in arousal-dependent tasks.

2.2. Comprehensive understanding of Comprehensive understanding of difficult psychophysical tasks difficult psychophysical tasks performance requires additional usage performance requires additional usage of some other concepts and models, of some other concepts and models, e.g., cognitive schemes, levels of e.g., cognitive schemes, levels of processing, functional system, etc.processing, functional system, etc.