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Current Projects:
- Developing dual-task Automaticity: Implications for Dual Processing Models of Attention
Extensive practice in a single-task environment can lead to proficient performance. Despite achieving a high degree of speed and accuracy, performance deteriorates when "automatic" single-tasks are performed as concurrent dual-tasks (DT). Furthermore, extensive DT practice is necessary to attenuate this interference. I am using the Visual Multi-Task, a rapid frame visual search, task to determine the necessary and sufficient conditions for DT automaticity. I am also using this paradigm to look at DT flexibly. Once DT automaticity has been developed, how robust is performance, to a modified task environment?
- Changes in neural activation related to dual-task practice: Evidence for a domain general learning network
Brain imaging studies rarely consider how practice effects neural activation. We believe that a domain general learning network is engaged during novel task performance. This network "drops out" or reduces activity when tasks are extensively practiced and stimulus response mapping are held constant (as opposed to varying the response to a particular stimulus over the course of several trials). This network involves dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and thalamus. I am scanning participants twice in fMRI, first when they are novice Visual Multi-Task (VMT) dual-task performers and once again after they have become experts. We expect this network to be highly engaged during scan one and considerably less active during scan two. Since this is a purported domain general network, we also expect this network to be engaged across different task pairing domains. The VMT has four task domains, letter search, object search, pattern search, and word search.
- Posterior Parietal Cortex function: Specialization of function in the "Control Network"
According to the Controlled and Automatic Processing Model version 2 (CAP2), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) are believed to be involved in cognitive control. These areas co-activate across a range of task conditions. The Schneider lab is interested in determining the specialization of function in this network. In particular, I am interested PPC's performance of attentional search when supported by the other control areas and when it acts autonomously.
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