A Computational Theory of Executive Cognitive Processes and Multiple-Task Performance: Part 2. Accounts of Psychological Refractory-Period Phenomena

Further simulations of human multiple-task performance have been conducted with computational models that are based on the executive-process interactive control (EPIC) architecture introduced by D. E. Meyer and D. E. Kieras (1997a ). These models account well for patterns of reaction times and psych...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological review 1997-10, Vol.104 (4), p.749-791
Main Authors: Meyer, David E, Kieras, David E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognition. Intelligence
Cognitive Processes
Executive processing
Experimental psychology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Human Information Storage
Male
Miscellaneous
Multiple task performance
Psychological factors
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Response Latency
Statistical analysis
Studies
Task Complexity
Theories
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Summary:Further simulations of human multiple-task performance have been conducted with computational models that are based on the executive-process interactive control (EPIC) architecture introduced by D. E. Meyer and D. E. Kieras (1997a ). These models account well for patterns of reaction times and psychological refractory-period phenomena (delays of overt responses after short stimulus onset asynchronies) observed in a variety of laboratory paradigms and realistic situations. This supports the claim of the present theoretical framework that multiple-task performance relies on adaptive executive control, which enables substantial amounts of temporal overlap among stimulus identification, response selection, and movement-production processes for concurrent tasks. Such overlap is achieved through optimized task scheduling by flexible executive processes that satisfy prevailing instructions about task priorities and allocate limited-capacity perceptual-motor resources efficiently.
ISSN:0033-295X
1939-1471
DOI:10.1037/0033-295X.104.4.749