Cognitive Resources Research Articles

The influence of message frame and product type on green consumer purchase decisions : an ERPs study

Green consumption is a crucial pathway towards achieving global sustainability goals. Product-oriented green advertisements can effectively stimulate consumers’ latent needs and convert them into eventual purchasing intentions and behaviors, thereby promoting green consumption. Given that neuromarketing methods facilitate the understanding of consumers’ decision-making processes, this study combines prospect theory and need fulfillment theory, employing event-related potentials (ERPs) as measures to explore changes in consumers’ cognitive resources and emotional arousal levels when confronted with green products and advertising information. This enables inference regarding consumers’ acceptance of purchasing and their psychological processes. Behavioral results indicated that message framing influences consumers’ purchases, with consumers consuming more green in response to negatively framed advertisements. EEG results indicated that matching positive framing with utilitarian green products was effective in increasing consumers’ cognitive attention in the early cognitive stage. In the late stage of cognition negative frames stimulated consumers’ mood swings more, and the influence of product type depended on the role of message frames, and the consumption motivation induced by the product, whose influence was overridden by external evaluations such as message frames. These research findings provide an explanation for the impact of frame information on consumers’ purchasing decisions at different stages, assisting marketers in devising diverse promotional strategies based on product characteristics to foster the development and practice of green consumption. This will further embed the concept of green consumption advocated by organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Greenpeace into the public consciousness.

The impact of social comparison on self-deception: An event-related potentials study.

Self-deception refers to an individual holding inflated beliefs about their abilities, and it plays a crucial role in human behavior and decision-making. The present study employed event-related potentials (ERPs) technique to explore the neural responses to the impacts of social comparison direction and comparison gap on self-deceptive behavior. They were instructed to predict their performance in the forward-looking paradigm. Behavioral responses and neural reactions during the decision-making process were documented. The behavioral results indicated that, in contrast to the downward comparison condition, participants engaged in upward comparison exhibited more occurrences of self-deception. However, within the context of upward comparison, participants demonstrated a higher frequency of self-deception in the large gap condition compared with the small gap condition. The ERP results showed that induced self-deception under conditions with a large comparative gap between participants and their paired counterparts stimulated larger P300 and smaller N400 amplitude than under conditions with a small gap. However, when participants were in the upward comparison situation, the late positive potential (LPP) amplitude induced by self-deception behavior in the condition of a large comparison gap between participants and paired opponents was larger than that in the condition of a small comparison gap. These results indicated that individuals in the large gap group feel strong unfairness and negative emotions. More importantly, the self-deception induced by the large gap group in the upward comparison situation used fewer cognitive resources than the small gap condition, whereas the individuals in the downward comparison situation did not show the difference in cognitive resources.

Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Different Channel Loads on Takeover Performance in Autonomous Driving under Non-Driving Tasks

Abstract Under conditions of high automation, drivers’ excessive engagement in non-driving related tasks can severely impact their takeover ability, posing a significant threat to road safety. Therefore, it’s essential to explore the channel resources occupied by non-driving related tasks to enhance driving safety. However, many studies have merely categorized different types of tasks in experiments without clarifying the relationship between the tasks and the channel resources they occupy. To determine whether different channel loads under non-driving related tasks have varying impacts on autonomous driving takeover performance, a meta-analysis was conducted on literature retrieved from January 2021 to January 2024. The results indicate that tasks occupying visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive channel resources during takeover all affect takeover performance. Among these, cognitive channel resource occupation significantly reduces takeover efficiency, followed by motor and auditory channels, with the visual channel having the least impact.

Words meet photos: How visual content impact rating

The fit information of multi-modal user-generated content has its unique value but is understudied. This study investigated how the fit between photos and text within a hotel review influences tourist rating behavior. Employing deep learning technologies and econometric analysis shows that the fit between photos and text has an inverted U-shape effect on tourists’ ratings using online hotel review data from Qunar.com. The dispersion of ratings and the number of reviews can weaken the above effect; this is due to the varying level of cognitive resources tourists possess. Endogeneity bias from text and photos is excluded by conducting the two-stage residual analysis. The information uncertainty reduction mechanism is tested between photo-text fit and ratings. This paper provides valuable insights for practitioners regarding user-generated content management in hospitality industry.

When do people switch queues? An empirical study of discretionary queue switching at a physical examination center

AbstractAutomatic queueing systems have been applied in many practical settings to guide customers through a sequence of service stages and achieve efficient queueing. However, our field observations of queueing from a large‐scale physical examination center, which adopts an automatic assignment system with the option of discretionary switching, reveal a relatively high likelihood of queue‐switching requests. That is, many queuers request overriding the algorithm's sequence and ask for a different one, leading to increased total waiting times. Motivated by these observations, this study investigates the behavioral mechanisms behind driving queuers’ switching decisions. Specifically, we examine the roles of two competing mechanisms as the waiting progresses: the motivation to explore a better opportunity (to reduce waiting time) and the consumption of cognitive resources for self‐control to adhere to the assigned queue. Our empirical results reveal a U‐shaped relationship between the examinees’ tendency to switch and the service progress. This U‐shaped relationship steepens when more (vs. less) queuers are ahead of the focal examinee and when the time is (vs. is not) “on an hour” (e.g., 9:00 and 10:00). This study contributes to the behavioral theory of queueing systems through a novel perspective highlighting the competing mechanisms driving individuals’ algorithm aversion behavior (i.e., queue switching) during the progress of multiple services, providing insights into how to design efficient queueing systems.

The Explanatory Effect of Cognitive Human Resources Skills in Supporting Quality Requirements: An Exploratory Study of the Board of Directors at Al-Nisour University College

This research discusses the explanatory impact of cognitive human resources skills in supporting quality requirements, by conducting an exploratory study of the opinions of the Board of Directors at University Al-Nisour College. As the research problem confirmed the existence of a significant deficiency in investing in cognitive skills and employing them in meeting quality requirements, which is considered one of the most important Indicators of success in the contemporary environment. Therefore, the importance of the research is to provide a set of recommendations that contribute to addressing this problem. The goal of the research is to identify the level of application of cognitive skills for human resources and total quality management, and then to identify the nature of the relationship of influence and connection that brings them together. The descriptive analytical method was used to complete the research. The research community was represented by employees at Al-Nisour University College, while the research sample consisted of members of the college council only, who numbered (23) individuals. The researchers also designed a questionnaire using a set of ready-made indicators and criteria, which was distributed to a sample of (23) individuals who were selected using a purposive sampling method. The scientific value of the research is to provide a modest addition to the Iraqi libraryو After processing the data using a set of central tendency measures available in the statistical program (SPSS-Ver.23), several results were produced that confirmed the importance of the role played by cognitive human resources skills in enhancing the organization’s ability to support quality requirements. These results confirm the validity of the hypothesis included in the research. Therefore, the researchers recommended the need to look at successful experiences in developed countries that have invested in cognitive human resources skills in meeting and supporting their quality requirements and programmers.

Predicting this rock: Listeners use redundant phonetic information in online morphosyntactic processing

Pronunciation variation is systematic, and provides listeners with cues to what the speaker is about to say. Shortened stems, for example, can indicate an upcoming suffix, while lengthened ones can indicate a word boundary follows. Previous work has shown that listeners draw on these cues to distinguish polysyllabic words, like rocket, from monosyllabic words, like rock. This strategy is useful in morphological processing, as additional morphological structure often adds additional syllables. The current study asks (i) whether listeners use these cues to distinguish words that differ only in morphological structure with no change in syllable count (e.g., rock/rocks); and (ii) how surrounding morphosyntactic context affects listeners’ ability to use these cues. Ideal observer models predict that listeners should be attentive to phonetic detail in all contexts regardless of how much new information it offers, while the strategic listener account allows listeners to dynamically adjust their attentiveness to phonetic detail based on its information value in context. In a visual-world eye-tracking study, English-speaking listeners were presented with utterances containing target nouns whose stem durations were manipulated to provide cues to the presence or absence of (a) a plural suffix (rock vs. rocks) or (b) a second, non-morphological syllable (rock vs. rocket). These words were embedded in two contexts: (i) preceded by agreeing determiners, which rendered stem duration cues redundant for predicting the presence or absence of a suffix (this rock/these rocks), and (ii) preceded by non-agreeing determiners (the rock(s)), where stem duration cues carried more information. The results are consistent with ideal observer models: listeners are highly attentive to all acoustic detail, and especially so when it is predictable (and hence redundant), as long as they have the cognitive resources to handle it.

Exploring the Perceptions of Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, Working in the Acute Hospital Setting, of Communication of Older Adults' Rehabilitation

Abstract Background As the ageing population continue to rise with this comes an increase in `geriatric syndromes' such as gait, balance or cognitive issues as well as the implications of frailty. Hospitalisation amongst older adults can often see risks such as deconditioning, delirium and losing independence. The role of rehabilitation for older adults becomes key to restoring one’s ability to live independently but can often be impacted by medical or cognitive status, communication and resources within the acute hospital setting. Issues such as uncertainty around goals or abilities as well as lack of resources can mean terms such as `rehabilitation potential' can impact on communication of rehabilitation. Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists frequently communicate with patients, their families and carers as well as the wider multidisciplinary team about older adults’ rehabilitation. Methods Focus groups were conducted among physiotherapists and occupational therapists, who worked in acute hospital settings in Ireland, to explore their perceptions of communication of older adults' rehabilitation. Results Nineteen therapists were recruited across five focus groups, which identified a number of themes around communication of older adults’ rehabilitation. Participants reported on communication strategies such as building rapport and using meaningful goals with older adults' rehabilitation. Participants discussed the rehabilitative journey through the acute setting and the impact of 'rehabilitation potential', resources as well as cognitive and medical status on communication of rehabilitation. Further training on communication were highlighted by participants as an area for future development. Conclusion Communication plays a key role in older adults' rehabilitation and can often be complicated by resources, time and pressures of the acute hospital setting. Multidisciplinary training could play a role in addressing how communication can enhance older adults' rehabilitation.

Personal sense of power predicts financial risk-taking propensity: But only when risk-related decisions are made without cognitive load.

A significant relationship between a sense of power and financial risk-taking has been established in the literature. However, the boundary conditions for this relationship remain unclear. This article presents the results of an online experimental study (N = 192) that explores the moderating role of cognitive load in the relationship between power and financial risk-taking in the domains of gambling and investing. The findings validate a positive association between a sense of power and financial risk-taking, alongside a negative impact of cognitive load on financial risk. Notably, cognitive load moderates the relationship between power and financial risk-taking in a way that the link is positive when individuals have full access to their cognitive resources, but it becomes nonsignificant when they are under cognitive load.

Interference inhibition of multimodal information in digital interfaces and its rule of cognitive processing

AbstractIn the digital interface of multimodal audio–visual presentation, the appearance of irrelevant information often brings cognitive interference or even confusion, leading to decision‐making errors when users focus on or manipulate the interface target. However, few studies have explored the brain's inhibition effect and cognitive law evoked by audio–visual interference from the perspective of interface information design. On the basis of Stroop's classic interference task, an experimental paradigm of multimodal audio–visual stimuli to induce event‐related potential (ERP) components was designed for digital interfaces in this study. Combining behavioral measurement and ERP technology, this study discussed the differences in the induced inhibition effects between the two carriers under various audio–visual interferences. The findings demonstrated that all five interference stimuli, based on functional icons and Chinese characters, elicited significant N250 and N400, with a similar time course. Compared with the Chinese character group, the functional icon group elicited more negative activity in the frontal and some parietal‐occipital regions, indicating that the functional icon required more cognitive inhibitory resources to resist interference stimuli. Moreover, the inhibition effect induced by audio–visual interference with the same semantics was significantly lower than that of opposite semantics and even lower than that of single‐sensory interference. The findings offered physiological evidence for the inhibition effect induced by audio–visual semantic interference in digital interfaces and proposed design principles for the interface information of human–machine systems.

Understanding the Impact of the Reality-Virtuality Continuum on Visual Search Using Fixation-Related Potentials and Eye Tracking Features

While Mixed Reality allows the seamless blending of digital content in users' surroundings, it is unclear if its fusion with physical information impacts users' perceptual and cognitive resources differently. While the fusion of digital and physical objects provides numerous opportunities to present additional information, it also introduces undesirable side effects, such as split attention and increased visual complexity. We conducted a visual search study in three manifestations of mixed reality (Augmented Reality, Augmented Virtuality, Virtual Reality) to understand the effects of the environment on visual search behavior. We conducted a multimodal evaluation measuring Fixation-Related Potentials (FRPs), alongside eye tracking to assess search efficiency, attention allocation, and behavioral measures. Our findings indicate distinct patterns in FRPs and eye-tracking data that reflect varying cognitive demands across environments. Specifically, AR environments were associated with increased workload, as indicated by decreased FRP - P3 amplitudes and more scattered eye movement patterns, impairing users' ability to identify target information efficiently. Participants reported AR as the most demanding and distracting environment. These insights inform design implications for MR adaptive systems, emphasizing the need for interfaces that dynamically respond to user cognitive load based on physiological inputs.

No Effect of Hunger on the Memory of Food Images and Prices

Abstract Purpose Food acquisition is an adaptive problem resolved via both physiological and psychological processes. Hunger could serve as a coordinating mechanism for these processes. When hunger increases, it may be beneficial to shift cognitive resources away from other adaptive problems and towards functions that increase the chances of acquiring food, such as memory for food information. However, there is limited research exploring the impacts of hunger on food-related memory, and the results are mixed. We conducted two studies investigating whether increased hunger levels improve memory for food images and prices – but not non-food images and prices – in image recognition and price recall tasks, respectively. Methods Study 1 was an online, observational study (N = 91) using self-reported hunger as a continuous measure. Study 2 was an in-person, between-subjects interventional study (N = 102) where participants were randomly allocated to a hungry or sated condition. We predicted that higher levels of hunger would improve participants’ ability to discriminate between food images they have and have not seen before and correctly recall food prices. Results We found no evidence of a hunger-related memory enhancement for food stimuli in either study in image recognition or price recall tasks. Conclusion Our findings contrast with older research but support more recent work, suggesting that the effect of hunger on food memory may be sensitive to study design and not as broadly generalisable as first thought.

Profiles of resilience resources among spousal caregivers

Objectives Resilience resources play a significant role in a caregiver’s adaptation process. Previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of individual resilience resources. This study aimed to examine diverse patterns of how those multiple resources simultaneously operate in a caregiving situation with the person-centered approach. Method This study utilized data from the Health and Retirement Study. Participants were eligible if they completed the Left-Behind questionnaire at two consecutive timepoints (2014 and 2016; or 2016 and 2018) and provided care for their spouse with limitations in activities of daily living (n = 692). Results Latent profile analysis identified three distinct groups among spousal caregivers: (1) Lack of Resilience Resources (17%), (2) Low Psychological and Cognitive Resources, but Having Moderate Support (21%), and (3) Strong Resilience Resources (62%). Spousal caregivers having functional limitations (Odds = 0.37, p = 0.016) and greater depressive symptoms (Odds = 0.59, p = 0.000), and high ongoing caregiving stress (Odds = 0.37, p = 0.007) were less likely to be in ‘Strong Resilience Resources’ than ‘Lack of Resilience Resources’. Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of taking a holistic view of resilience resources. It provides insights into potentially vulnerable groups and caregivers’ adaptation process, thereby contributing to the development of interventions or policies aimed at enhancing the resilience resources of family caregivers.

Learning changes in educational animation: visuospatial working memory is more predictive than subjective task load.

Current theories suggest that visual and spatial processes in working memory are crucial for learning from animation. However, despite over three decades of research on learning from animation, little is known about how visuospatial working memory relates to learning. Instead, animation research often relies on subjective task load to explain and predict learning performance. To better understand how visuospatial working memory and learning from animation are related, a within-subjects study was conducted. Eighty six students learned from two animations of different complexity. The students' performance on visual learning tasks, visual and spatial working memory capacity, and perceived task load were assessed. Hierarchical regression analyses show that visuospatial working memory capacity is more critical for learning from a complex animation than for learning from a less complex animation. Moreover, visuospatial working memory capacity predicts learning from a complex animation significantly better than subjective task load. The effect size is large. The results provide a coherent picture of the relationships between learning task demands, learners' visuospatial working memory, perceived task load and learning performance. They not only allow for a more accurate prediction of learning from animation but can also help to tailor the design and use of animations to the learners' cognitive resources.

Factors Influencing Seniors’ Anxiety in Using ICT

The ability of older adults to engage with information and communication technologies (ICT) is crucial in today’s more digital and connected world. Anxiety about and failure to adopt and engage with ICT is increasingly likely to be a barrier in daily living for older adults, potentially reducing their freedom as consumers, quality of life, independence, and wellbeing. It may also be a significant factor in social and economic exclusion. Drawing on consumer behaviour, ICT theories and frameworks, and a quantitative survey of 706 older Australian adults, this paper examines factors influencing anxiety in engaging with ICT. Our findings show that perceived anxiety was associated with increased subjective norms or when others placed pressure on older people to engage more with ICT and when older adults perceived increased risks associated with ICT engagement. Conversely, reduced levels of perceived anxiety were correlated with a positive attitude towards ICT and when older people had the technical and cognitive resources to adopt and engage with ICT. The results highlight the importance of building, renewing, and reinforcing digital competencies in older consumers. Understanding factors associated with ICT-related anxiety means that organisations will be better placed to develop campaigns, products, programmes, and policies for older consumers that actively reduce anxiety, increase their use of ICT, and reduce the digital divide.

A neural index reflecting the amount of cognitive resources available during memory encoding: A model-based approach.

A neural index reflecting the amount of cognitive resources available during memory encoding: A model-based approach.

Cognitive processing speed improvement after cochlear implantation.

Untreated hearing loss has an effect on cognition. It is hypothesized that the additional processing required to compensate for the sensory loss affects the cognitive resources available for other tasks and that this could be mitigated by a hearing device. The impact on cognition of cochlear implants (CIs) was tested in 100 subjects, ≥60 years old, with bilateral moderately-severe to profound post linguistic deafness using hearing aids. Data was compared pre and 12 and 18 months after cochlear implantation for the speech spatial qualities questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail making test B (TMTB) and digit symbol coding (DSC) from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale version IV and finally the timed up and go test (TUG). Subjects were divided into young old (60-64), middle old (65-75) and old old (75+) groups. Cognitive test scores and times were standardized according to available normative data. Hearing significantly improved pre- to post-operatively across all age groups. There was no change post-implant in outcomes for TMTB, TUG or MMSE tests. Age-corrected values were within normal expectations for all age groups for the TUG and MMSE. However, DSC scores and TMTB times were worse than normal. There was a significant increase in DSC scores between baseline and 12-months for 60- to 64-year-olds (t[153] = 2.608, p = 0.027), which remained at 18 months (t[153] = 2.663, p = 0.023). The improved attention and processing speed in the youngest age group may be a consequence of reallocation of cognitive resources away from auditory processing due to greatly improved hearing. The oldest age group of participants had cognition scores closest to normal values, suggesting that only the most able older seniors tend to come forward for a CI. Severe to profoundly deaf individuals with hearing aids or cochlear implants were still poorer than age-equivalent normally hearing individuals with respect to cognitive flexibility, attention, working memory, processing speed and visuoperceptual functions. Due to a lack of data for the TUG, TMTB and DSC in the literature for hearing impaired individuals, the results reported here provide an important set of reference data for use in future research.

Mindfulness for the Mindful? Examining How Trait Mindfulness Impacts Daily Energetic Wellbeing and Cognitive Resources

Mindfulness for the Mindful? Examining How Trait Mindfulness Impacts Daily Energetic Wellbeing and Cognitive Resources

Eye Movement Evaluation of Pedestrians' Mobile Phone Usage at Street Crossings

Vision is one of the most important human senses, accounting for most of the external information pedestrians receive while crossing the street. However, distracted mobile phone usage during street crossing consumes pedestrians’ cognitive resources and diverts their visual attention. As a result, pedestrians may be unable to fully concentrate on observing the traffic environment and effectively planning their crossing path and behavior. This study evaluated the effect of pedestrian behavioral activities at street crossings on eye-movement (EM) characteristics. The crossing tasks were natural behavior, voice call, text messaging, and listening to music. The tasks were further categorized as simple or complex. A total of 29 participants were recruited in Nanjing: 18 males (62.1%) and 11 females (37.9%) with an average age of 23.59 years (SD = 2.44). The Friedman test was used to analyze differences in saccade frequency, fixation time, browsing number, and browsing time across different scenarios. Text messaging had the most significant impact on pedestrians’ EM characteristics, followed by voice call; music listening had a relatively weaker effect. Secondary task difficulty influenced the percentage of browsing, viewing, and to some extent gaze time. On the other hand, music rhythm and style only partially influenced the percentage of gaze and gaze time. Mobile phones substantially affected pedestrians’ EM characteristics and attention allocation for the same level of secondary task difficulty. These findings contribute to a better understanding of pedestrians’ visual characteristics under distracted mobile phone usage conditions and provide valuable insights for developing appropriate measures to enhance pedestrian safety.

Perceiving natural images may consume less cognitive resources: evidence from image memorability, edge magnitudes, and spectral content

Perceiving natural images may consume less cognitive resources: evidence from image memorability, edge magnitudes, and spectral content