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Multitasking across the lifespan in different task contexts.
Van Humbeeck, Nathan; Van Wilderode, Mira; Kliegl, Reinhold; van Wieringen, Astrid; Krampe, Ralf T.
Affiliation
  • Van Humbeeck N; Brain & Cognition Group, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium. Nathan.vanhumbeeck@kuleuven.be.
  • Van Wilderode M; Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
  • Kliegl R; Division of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
  • van Wieringen A; Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
  • Krampe RT; Dept of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 11817, 2024 05 23.
Article de En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38783047
ABSTRACT
We assessed lifespan development of multitasking in a sample of 187 individuals aged 8-82 years. Participants performed a visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) task together with either postural control or reaction time (RT) tasks. Using criterion-referenced testing we individually adjusted difficulty levels for the VSWM task to control for single-task differences. Age-differences in single-task performances followed U-shaped patterns with young adults outperforming children and older adults. Multitasking manipulations yielded robust performance decrements in VSWM, postural control and RT tasks. Presumably due to our adjustment of VSWM challenges, costs in this task were small and similar across age groups suggesting that age-differential costs found in earlier studies largely reflected differences already present during single-task performance. Age-differences in multitasking costs for concurrent tasks depended on specific combinations. For VSWM and RT task combinations increases in RT were the smallest for children but pronounced in adults highlighting the role of cognitive control processes. Stabilogram diffusion analysis of postural control demonstrated that long-term control mechanisms were affected by concurrent VSWM demands. This interference was pronounced in older adults supporting concepts of compensation or increased cognitive involvement in sensorimotor processes at older age. Our study demonstrates how a lifespan approach can delineate the explanatory scope of models of human multitasking.
Sujet(s)

Texte intégral: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Base de données: MEDLINE Sujet principal: Temps de réaction / Mémoire à court terme Limites: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Aged80 / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Langue: En Journal: Sci Rep / Sci. rep. (Nat. Publ. Group) / Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group) Année: 2024 Type de document: Article Pays d'affiliation: Belgique Pays de publication: Royaume-Uni

Texte intégral: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Base de données: MEDLINE Sujet principal: Temps de réaction / Mémoire à court terme Limites: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Aged80 / Child / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Langue: En Journal: Sci Rep / Sci. rep. (Nat. Publ. Group) / Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group) Année: 2024 Type de document: Article Pays d'affiliation: Belgique Pays de publication: Royaume-Uni