Attention and multidimensional discrimination1

Abstract

Observers' ability to perform several discrimination tasks at the same time was tested using a two-alternative temporal forced-choice procedure. Discrimination of two auditory dimensions (pitch and intensity) and two visual dimensions (horizontal position and vertical position) was measured under conditions where one, two or all four dimensions required attention. Three signal durations were used: 67, 133, and 200 msec. Increasing the number of dimensions requiring attention systematically reduces the precisions of discrimination for each dimension. Auditory and visual discrimination is affected similarly. The amount of reduction in discrimination is independent of whether the dimensions requiring attention involve the same or different sensory modalities. The data are analyzed for evidence of a constant processing capacity employed in both single and multidimensional discrimination. The possibility that the observed performance levels could be achieved by sequentially processing the simultaneous inputs is also considered. © 1968 Psychonomic Society, Inc.