Monitoring the information-processing demands of attention switching.

Examined demands on information-processing capacity in 3 experiments with 48 Ss by combining auditory digit-tasks involving attention switching with the secondary task of pursuit tracking. Secondary task scores in 2 experiments were lower for tracking segments involving signalled switches between digit-tasks and between input channels, respectively. These results could not be accounted for by a trade-off between digit-task and tracking performance. When the attended channel was defined by voice quality in a 3rd experiment, tracking performance was not affected by switches between input channels. A comparison of the present results and those of related studies indicates that switching attention per se between input channels does not constitute the primary demand for central processing capacity in dichotic tasks. The increased demand appears to be related instead to the concomitant changes required in the input processing and to the processing of signals to switch the focus of attention. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)