While decades of research have deepened our understanding of time perception, the perception of (manipulated) video speed has been relatively underexplored but is gaining interest with recent technological advances. This study systematically investigated human perception of "video speed," "clip duration" and "original…

It is well established that performing multiple tasks simultaneously (dual-tasking) or sequentially (task-switching) degrades performance on one or both tasks. However, it is unknown whether task-switching adds to the effects of dual-tasking in a single setup. We investigated this in a simulated everyday-like car driving scenario. We expected an…

Cross-dimensional interference between spatial and temporal processing provides valuable insights into the neuronal representation of space and time. Previous research has frequently found asymmetric interference patterns, with temporal judgments being more affected by spatial information than vice versa. However, this asymmetry has been…

Visual statistical learning (visual SL) is the ability to implicitly extract statistical patterns from visual stimuli. Visual SL could be assessed using online measures, evaluating reaction times (RTs) to stimuli during task performance, and offline measures, which assess recognition of the presented patterns. We examined 96 children aged 3-9…

Individuals often have difficulties completing tasks in a timely manner. Whether it be scheduling a doctor's appointment, purchasing a birthday gift, or booking an airline ticket, waiting until the very last minute can carry serious consequences. In two experimental studies, we explore how individuals can be encouraged to finish tasks promptly. We…

Multitasking abilities are vital for conducting flight missions. Traditional theories of multitasking suggest that cognitive resources represent a determining factor of said performance. The current study takes a different approach by investigating how the stability-flexibility-dilemma of cognitive control influences multitasking performance in a…

We report results from two experiments that examined the time course of vigilance decrements during a demanding multitasking scenario. Specifically, we implemented a novel paradigm in two experiments in which a total of 123 participants performed a go-no-go target detection continuous performance test (CPT) task simultaneously with a driving-based…

Although humans often multitask, little is known about how the processing of concurrent tasks is managed. The present study investigated whether adjustments in parallel processing during multitasking are local (task-specific) or global (task-unspecific). In three experiments, participants performed one of three tasks: a primary task or, if this…

Statistical learning enables humans to involuntarily process and utilize different kinds of patterns from the environment. However, the cognitive mechanisms underlying the simultaneous acquisition of multiple regularities from different perceptual modalities remain unclear. A novel multidimensional serial reaction time task was developed to test…

During timing tasks, the brain learns the statistical distribution of target intervals and integrates this prior knowledge with sensory inputs to optimise task performance. Daily events can have different temporal statistics (e.g., fastball/slowball in baseball batting), making it important to learn and retain multiple priors. However, the rules…

In order processing, consecutive sequences (e.g., 1-2-3) are generally processed faster than nonconsecutive sequences (e.g., 1-3-5) (also referred to as the reverse distance effect). A common explanation for this effect is that order processing operates via a memory-based associative mechanism whereby consecutive sequences are processed faster…

In this article, we explore the extraction of recursive nested structure in the processing of binary sequences. Our aim was to determine whether humans learn the higher-order regularities of a highly simplified input where only sequential-order information marks the hierarchical structure. To this end, we implemented a sequence generated by the…

The pervasive nature of media multitasking in the last fifteen years has sparked extensive research, revealing a nuanced but predominantly negative association with executive function. Given the cognitive demands and technological landscape of the modern battlefield, there is a critical interest in understanding how these findings may or may not…

Irrelevant but salient (automatically processed) variables of a given science or mathematics task are known to cause intuitive interference with formal reasoning, leading to incorrect responses. To help students overcome intuitive interference, one approach focuses on a warning intervention which aims at activating executive control mechanisms,…

Previous studies have provided evidence that introspection about dual-task performance in the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm is severely limited. The present study investigated introspection at the other pole of the multitasking continuum, namely task switching. In 2 experiments, participants provided estimates of their response…