Task Performance Research Articles

No differences between remote and laboratory-based testing of cardiac interoceptive accuracy using the phase adjustment task

AbstractIn recent years, there has been an increased interest in remote testing methods for quantifying individual differences in interoception, the perception of the body’s internal state. Hampering the adoption of remote methods are concerns as to the quality of data obtained remotely. Using data from several studies, we sought to compare the performance of individuals who completed the Phase Adjustment Task—a new measure of cardiac interoceptive accuracy that can be administered via a smartphone application—supervised in a laboratory against those who completed the task remotely. Across a total sample of 205 individuals (119 remote and 86 laboratory), we observed no significant differences in task performance between the two groups. These results held when matching groups on demographic variables (e.g., age) and considering only individuals who had successfully completed a screener task. Overall, these data attest to the suitability of the Phase Adjustment Task for remote testing, providing an opportunity to collect larger and more diverse samples for future interoception research.

The self-relevant spotlight metaphor: Self-relevant targets diminish distractor–response-binding effects

AbstractRecently, it has been proposed that self-relevance of a stimulus enhances executive control and reduces the impact of distractors on current task performance. The present study aimed to test whether the binding between a distractor and a response is influenced by self-relevance, too. We assumed that targets’ self-relevance should increase executive control processes and therefore reduce the influence of distractors on current performance. In a distractor–response-binding (DRB) task, which measures the strength of binding between distractor stimuli and responses, we varied target relevance so that participants responded to targets that either were or were not self-relevant. Our design made it possible to measure DRB effects for both relevance conditions separately. DRB effects were diminished if targets were self-relevant compared to when they were not. These results expand our understanding of the influence of self-relevance on cognitive performance. The influence of self-relevance is not purely perceptual (Sui & Humphreys, 2012, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 38[5], 1105–1117), but also found in higher-order processes such as executive control. Moreover, whereas for different paradigms binding advantages of self-relevance are assumed (Sui & Humphreys, 2015a, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 19[12], 719–728; Humphreys & Sui, 2016, Cognitive Neuroscience, 7[1/4], 5–17), this study identifies an important boundary condition, in that distractor–response binding is reduced by target self-relevance.

Improving Performance in Physical Education Through Students’ Enrichment Activity Training (SEAT)

This study aimed to determine the Physical Activity and Students Performance of grade 11 students in Physical Education Class of Baliwasan Senior High School during the school year 2022-2023. The study employed quasi-experimental research design using pre-test and post-test in physical education during the second semester period. The participants of this study were 50 Grade 11 students of GAS A and 50 GAS B students under the GAS strand. A purposive sampling technique was utilized in determining the sample of the study. The findings revealed that the performance of grade 11 students was satisfactory. The pretest for both the control and experimental group was poor. The posttest results of the control and experimental group were satisfactory. The mean gain score of the control and experimental group increased significantly. There was a significant difference in the mean gain score of the control and experimental group. There was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest results in physical education of the control and experimental group. It is highly recommended that the senior high school teachers may use the FITT intervention program and the application of CSPAP strategy approach in teaching physical education. They may also integrate the SEAT in physical education class where the students’ performance was unified in their performance task and the teacher recorded their response and outcome through rubrics.

Examining the nexus between servant leadership and employee task performance: the moderation mediation model

Examining the nexus between servant leadership and employee task performance: the moderation mediation model

Analysing the impact of gamification training on reinforcing the relationship of ISA employee engagement and employee task performance – empirical study

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effect of gamification training on employee task performance within the context of intellectual, social and affective (ISA) employee engagement in India. The use of gamification in training as a possible precursor to increased employee engagement is a fascinating research topic, especially as employee engagement is becoming an increasingly important factor in workplace success. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the aim of this study, 300 responses were obtained from employees in an Indian company using online surveys to quantitatively assess levels of employee engagement and task performance. Statistical tests like SPSS 20.0 and Smart PLS 3.0 were run on the collected data to see if gamification training led to significantly higher levels of employee engagement and if this engagement had an effect on task performance. Findings Result tells that social and affective engagement mediates the relationship between gamification training and employee task performance in gamification-using organisations, relative to intellectual engagement. As social and affective engagement has considerable positive effects on employee job performance and gamification training, gamification training is a critical approach for organisations to implement to increase employee engagement and, consequently, performance. Originality/value Using an innovative variable of employee engagement – specifically, ISA employee engagement – the authors have sought to establish a mediating link between gamification and employee task performance. Therefore, the study’s designs have practical value for organisations because they incorporate the ISA engagement scale into a game-based learning environment.

Manipulating levels of uncertainty in a decision making task for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The study aims to investigate whether manipulating levels of uncertainty would influence performance in a decision-making task in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This case-control study compares the performance in beads task (measuring reflection/decisional impulsivity) performance and trait impulsivity (Short Urgency-Premeditation-Perseverance-Sensation Seeking-Positive Urgency (UPPS-P)) in patients with OCD (n=65) and non-clinical controls (n=45). Mann Whitney U test was carried out to assess between-group differences. The OCD group had significantly lesser draws to decision (U=1845 , p=.019) and subjective decisional-certainty (U=1518, p=0.00) in the low-uncertainty (85:15) condition , higher scores of negative urgency (U= 2163, p=<0.001) and lower scores on sensation-seeking (U= 907.5, p=.001) in the UPPS-P. However, the comparison of beads task performance does not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Patients with OCD engage in impulsive decision-making in the lower-uncertainty condition in comparison to healthy controls, despite low subjective certainty of the decision. They also had increased scores on the trait impulsivity factor of negative urgency. Future studies may explore the relationship between trait impulsivity as well as the contributions of symptom severity, anxiety and decisional certainty to impulsivity in OCD.

Mitigating Cybersickness in Virtual Reality: Impact of Eye–Hand Coordination Tasks, Immersion, and Gaming Skills

Cybersickness remains a significant challenge for virtual reality (VR) applications, particularly in highly immersive environments. This study examined the effects of immersion, task performance, and individual differences on cybersickness symptoms across multiple stages of VR exposure. Forty-seven participants aged 18–45 completed a within-subjects design that involved the Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Questionnaire (CSQ-VR) and the Deary–Liewald Reaction Time (DLRT) task. Cybersickness symptoms were assessed across four stages: before and after VR immersion, and before and after a 12 min rollercoaster ride designed to induce cybersickness. The results showed significant increases in symptoms following the rollercoaster ride, with partial recovery during the post-ride tasks. Eye–hand coordination tasks, performed after the ride and VR immersion, mitigated nausea, as well as vestibular, and oculomotor symptoms, suggesting that task engagement plays a key role in alleviating cybersickness. The key predictors of symptom severity included a susceptibility to motion sickness and gaming experience, particularly proficiency in first-person shooter (FPS) games, which was associated with a reduced cybersickness intensity. While task engagement reduced symptoms in the later stages, particularly nausea and vestibular discomfort, overall cybersickness levels remained elevated post-immersion. These findings underscore the importance of task timing, individual differences, and immersive experience design in developing strategies to mitigate cybersickness and enhance user experiences in VR environments.

Strategies, Factors and Challenges in Core Science Subject Delivery at Cuenca Senior High School

This study aims to identify the strategies, factors, and challenges in delivering core science subjects through quantitative non-experimental research. Using a random sampling technique, data were collected from 284 respondents via a Google Form questionnaire. The findings indicate that the most used teaching strategy among senior high school science teachers is the lecture method, primarily utilizing PowerPoint slides. This is followed by project-based learning through performance tasks and lectures that incorporate ICT tools, such as e-games and quizzes. Key factors influencing science literacy include students’ prior knowledge, focus, and perceptions of the topic. The goal of this study is to develop a project to enhance core science literacy instruction within the institution. To enhance student performance, a plan of action is proposed that employs a metacognitive strategy—specifically, a contextualized or personalized scientific dictionary—to develop scientific literacy.

Partial prior transfer learning based on self-attention CNN for EEG decoding in stroke patients.

The utilization of motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces (MI-BCI) has been shown to assist stroke patients activate motor regions in the brain. In particular, the brain regions activated by unilateral upper limb multi-task are more extensive, which is more beneficial for rehabilitation, but it also increases the difficulty of decoding. In this paper, self-attention convolutional neural network based partial prior transfer learning (SACNN-PPTL) is proposed to improve the classification performance of patients' MI multi-task. The backbone network of the algorithm is SACNN, which accords with the inherent features of electroencephalogram (EEG) and contains the temporal feature module, the spatial feature module and the feature generalization module. In addition, PPTL is introduced to transfer part of the target domain while preserving the generalization of the base model while improving the specificity of the target domain. In the experiment, five backbone networks and three training modes are selected as comparison algorithms. The experimental results show that SACNN-PPTL had a classification accuracy of 55.4%±0.17 in four types of MI tasks for 22 patients, which is significantly higher than comparison algorithms (P < 0.05). SACNN-PPTL effectively improves the decoding performance of MI tasks and promotes the development of BCI-based rehabilitation for unilateral upper limb.

Mixed Reality-Based Inspection Method for Underground Water Supply Network with Multi-Source Information Integration

Regular on-site inspection is crucial for promptly detecting faults in water supply networks (WSNs) and auxiliary facilities, significantly reducing leakage risks. However, the fragmentation of information and the separation between virtual and physical networks pose challenges, increasing the cognitive load on inspectors. Furthermore, due to the lack of real-time computation in current research, the effectiveness in detecting anomalies, such as leaks, is limited, hindering its ability to provide immediate and direct-decision support for inspectors. To address these issues, this research proposes a mixed reality (MR) inspection method that integrates multi-source information, combining building information modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), monitoring data, and numerical simulation technologies. This approach aims to achieve in situ visualization and real-time computational capabilities. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through case studies, with user feedback confirming its feasibility. The results indicate improvements in inspection task performance, work efficiency, and standardization compared to traditional mobile terminal-based methods.

A novel phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, RF26, improves memory impairment and ameliorates tau aggregation and neuroinflammation in the P301S tauopathy mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors are primarily used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, but have also been reported to have a potential therapeutic effect for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is likely to be through stimulation of nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling by elevating cGMP, a secondary messenger involved in processes of neuroplasticity. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of a novel PDE5 inhibitor, RF26, using P301S tauopathy mice model. A body of experimental evidence suggests that the development of tau inclusions leads to the neurodegeneration observed in tauopathies, including AD, Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Supranuclear palsy and others. RF26 successfully targeted NO/cGMP signaling pathway and showed a significant improvement of spatial memory task performance of P301S mice using Morris Water Maze and T-maze. Furthermore, RF26 -treated mice showed a significant reduction of phosphorylated tau load, gliosis and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines. The presented data support the efficacy of RF26 as a potent PDE5 inhibitor and calls for further investigation as a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's and other tauopathy related neurological disorders.

Effects of the Interaction Between Time-on-Task and Task Load on Response Lapses

To investigate the interaction effects of prolonged working periods and different task loads on response lapses, focusing on the mechanisms of delayed responses and error lapses. Professionals such as pilots, truck drivers, and nurses often face extended work hours and fluctuating task loads. While these factors individually affect performance, their interaction and its impact on response lapses remain unclear. Twenty participants completed the Uchida–Kraepelin (U–K) Psychological Test and a dual-task version with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Independent variables were time-on-task and task load. Dependent variables included measures of fatigue, arousal, workload, task performance (delayed and error rates), and brain functional connectivity. Both time-on-task and task load significantly affected cerebral connectivity, response lapses, workload (frustration level), fatigue, and arousal. Arousal levels significantly decreased and reaction times increased after 60 min of work. Cognitive resource regulation became challenging after 90 min under high task load levels. A decline in the connection between the prefrontal and occipital cortex during high-load tasks was observed. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms of response lapses under different task load levels and can inform strategies to mitigate these lapses during extended work periods. This study’s findings can be applied to improve work schedules and fatigue management in industries like aviation, transportation, and healthcare, helping reduce response lapses and errors during extended work periods under high task load conditions.

Backward Design in Pre-Service Teacher Education to Enhance Curriculum Knowledge

This action research aimed to enhance the curriculum knowledge of 37 pre-service teachers in early-childhood education through backward design (BD) as an innovative framework. Participants enrolled in an online curriculum development course focusing on curriculum elements and underwent BD-based instruction for five weeks. Multiple data collection tools were employed, including pre- and post-achievement tests and curriculum literacy scales, digital learning journals, performance tasks, course observations, and interviews. The results showed a significant improvement in the curriculum knowledge of the pre-service teachers. This was evidenced by a notable increase in curriculum literacy scores, a moderate improvement in achievement test scores, and positive performance task outcomes. These findings highlight the effectiveness of BD-based instruction in enhancing the curriculum knowledge of pre-service teachers. This study provides valuable insights for teacher educators to effectively tailor their instructional approaches. Further research is needed to validate these results and advance instructional practices in pre-service teacher education.

Enhancing cognitive abilities in young adults with ADHD through instrumental music training: a comparative analysis of musicians and non-musicians.

Extensive research highlights the multifaceted benefits of active musical engagement across all ages, from childhood to the elderly. The practice of a musical instrument activates numerous brain regions, enhancing a range of neurocognitive skills. Despite accumulating evidence from various clinical populations, research on the effects of musical training in individuals with ADHD is scarce, with virtually no studies focusing on adults. This study aims to fill the gap by evaluating the impact of long-term instrumental music training on cognitive abilities in young adults (18-35 years) diagnosed with ADHD. Cognitive abilities were compared across groups of 48 musicians (experienced guitar or piano players) and 46 matched non-musicians, all confirmed to have ADHD. The assessments covered cognitive domains such as sustained attention, visuospatial processing, processing speed, graphomotor speed, working memory, auditory recall, response inhibition, and executive function. Evaluation tools included the Digit-Symbol Coding Test, Digit Span Test, Symbol Search Test, Switching Task, and Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Collectively, the results indicated a notable enhancement in cognitive performance in the musician group compared to the non-musician group, including in functions central to the disorder, such as sustained attention and impulse control. Musicians scored higher on the Digit-Symbol Coding, Digit Span, and Symbol Search tests, showed lower error rates and greater consistency in reaction times in the Switching Task, and had fewer commission errors in the CPT. The findings support the integration of specialized musical training in therapeutic and support programs for ADHD, suggesting benefits that may extend into adulthood.

Measuring Raven’s Progressive Matrices Combining Eye-Tracking Technology and Machine Learning (ML) Models

Extended testing time in Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM) can lead to increased fatigue and reduced motivation, which may impair cognitive task performance. This study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in RPM by combining eye-tracking technology with machine learning (ML) models, aiming to explore new methods for improving the efficiency of RPM testing and to identify the key metrics involved. Using eye-tracking metrics as features, ten ML models were trained, with the XGBoost model demonstrating superior performance. Notably, we further refined the period of interest and reduced the number of metrics, achieving strong performance, with accuracy, precision, and recall all above 0.8, using only 60% of the response time and nine eye-tracking metrics. This study also examines the role of several key metrics in RPM and offers valuable insights for future research.

CONCEPTUALISING FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE IN ORGANISATIONAL ECOSYSTEM

Performance, as a significant construct, reflects the desire to fulfill specific needs and serves as a fundamental component in the workplace, and is regarded as a multifaceted concept that encompasses various aspects, including processes, behavioral engagements, and outcomes, specifically related to job behavior. Task performance requires specific behaviors and advanced cognitive abilities, categorised into technical-administrative and leadership responsibilities. Job performance prompts behavior associated with achievement that includes evaluative aspects. Research highlights the significance of autonomous and intrinsic motivation, indicating that individuals guided by inherent values and behaviors achieve optimal performance. The present conceptual study aims to identify and understand the principal factors affecting employee performance and to illustrate the connections among these components through a literature review on performance. Evaluating employee performance is the most complex and hardest soft skill, requiring the incorporation of additional factors. The predicted finding and discussion of this study allows us to draw inferences about the elements affecting projected performance within an inclusive organisational environment, such as the Police Department, and to provide suggestions for future research. This conceptual piece concludes a conceptual framework regarding staff development, measurement methodologies, and the factors influencing staff performance assessment. Understanding these characteristics will facilitate the assessment of staff performance and clarify the factors that enable an employee to succeed in meeting an organization's objectives.

Psychological interventions for the self-regulated enhancement of music performance: A systematic review

Psychological interventions to enhance musicians’ self-regulation are increasingly being recognized as essential for supporting them in their development and optimization of performance skills. The aim of this review was to provide a synthesis of such interventions and examine their effects on expert-rated music performance quality. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol, we initially identified 3,182 articles, of which we selected 89 studies. Using the theoretical framework of self-regulated learning, we present a comprehensive overview of experimental, quasi-experimental, and single-case studies published until April 2022 that tested how musicians can improve their performance through self-regulation strategies such as goal setting, imagery, attention focusing, relaxation, and self-evaluation. The results show mixed evidence with mostly positive or non-significant effects, indicating that expressive writing, external focus, feedback, combined electromyographic (EMG) and electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback, and imagery combined with physical practice can increase expert-rated music performance quality. The reported methodological quality, the applied performance task and evaluation, and potential mechanisms underlying the interventions should be considered when interpreting the results. We critically discuss possible improvements for future studies, as well as practical implications.

An examination of scene complexity’s role in cybersickness

This study explored the effects of scene complexity factor on cybersickness. In this between-subjects experiment, 44 participants played the Pendulum Chair VR game, half with a simple scene and half with a complex scene. The complex scene featured higher optic flow (lower-level perceptual factor) and higher familiarity (higher level factor). Dependent variables were cybersickness and task performance. Results were unexpected in that cybersickness did not differ significantly between the simple and complex scenes. These results suggest that the impact of optic flow and familiarity on cybersickness may be affected by each other or other factors, making them unreliable predictors of cybersickness if considered alone. Both lower level and higher-level factors would benefit from further research to deduce the conditions under which they affect cybersickness. VR designers could consider that optic flow and familiarity alone are not reliable factors when predicting the cybersickness-inducing effects of a new environment.

Empathetic Pedagogical Agent: Mitigating Harmful Effects of Negative Feedback Through Self-Disclosure

Negative feedback can have detrimental effects on the students’ self-efficacy and learning experience, yet it is inevitable for students who receive low outcomes and need improvement. This study investigates the role of pedagogical agents’ self-disclosure in providing empathy for negative feedback. An online experiment was conducted asking participants (N = 183) to interact with a voice-based pedagogical agent in a between-subjects design: 2 (feedback: positive vs. negative) X 2 (agent: self-disclose vs. non-disclose). The agent instructed students on online learning tasks and provided feedback on their task performance. Our findings showed that the agent’s self-disclosure significantly increased students’ perception of intimacy and cognitive trust toward the agent. A significant interaction effect was observed in intimacy, suggesting that the role of self-disclosure is especially pronounced when negative feedback is provided. A significant mediation effect of cognitive trust was also found between self-disclosure and feedback acceptance.

Interleukin-12 modulates sleep–wake activity and improves performance in a memory task

Abstract Background Cytokines, known for their pro- and anti-inflammatory roles, are also key regulators of sleep–wake cycles. Classical pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), are associated with increased sleep, particularly slow-wave sleep (SWS), while anti-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-10 (IL-10), generally reduce sleep duration. Given the essential role of sleep in memory consolidation, this study aimed to investigate whether interleukin-12 (IL-12), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, could increase sleep duration following a memory acquisition task and subsequently improve memory performance. Male Swiss mice were surgically implanted with electrodes for electrocorticogram (ECoG) and electromyogram (EMG) recordings to track their sleep–wake cycles. After a recovery period, baseline sleep–wake activity was recorded. The mice were then randomly assigned to two groups and treated with either IL-12 (0.5 µg, i.p.) or a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, i.p.) control, administered immediately before the multiple-trial inhibitory avoidance (MTIA) task, a behavioral test used to assess memory performance. Following the memory acquisition session, sleep–wake activity was immediately recorded for a continuous 24-h period. Results Mice treated with IL-12 exhibited longer latency to cross into the dark compartment during the MTIA test, indicating improved memory retention compared to the control group. Interestingly, this improved performance was associated with prolonged wakefulness, particularly in the first three hours after task acquisition. Conclusion The study shows that IL-12 can improve memory retention through prolonged wake episodes rather than increased sleep. This finding challenges the conventional understanding that sleep is the primary state for memory consolidation, suggesting that under specific conditions, wakefulness may also play a key role in supporting memory processes. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of IL-12's cognitive effects.