Visual Vigilance Task Research Articles

Children's vigilance performance and inattentiveness in the classroom.

SummaryThe current study was conducted in order to test the hypothesis that vigilance performance is related to children's attentiveness in a classroom setting. Sixteen children were administered an auditory and visual vigilance task, and their performance related to their “off‐task” behavior in the classroom. In addition, the relationship of vigilance performance to teacher ratings of the children's behavior, and to reading achievement scores was also assessed. Vigilance errors (omission and commission errors) were significantly positively correlated with off‐task behavior, but were only weakly correlated with the other two variables. The findings support the general hypothesis that vigilance performance relates to a child's ability to remain attentive in the classroom.

Alcohol-induced drowsiness and vigilance performance.

Detection of signals in a visual vigilance task decreased significantly after drinking 1.2 g of alcohol per kg. Two mechanisms for the detection decrement are discussed.

The event rate context in vigilance: Relation to signal probability and expectancy

The influence of the conditional probability of signals encountered during an adapting phase of a visual vigilance task on postadaptation performance was examined within the context of different background event rates (frequencies of presentation of repetitive neutral events). Slow (6 events/min) and fast (30 events/min) event rates were used. Within each event rate, four groups of subjects experienced either a low (.025) or a high (.125) conditional probability of signals for 20 min (adaptation phase) and then experienced either the same or the alternate probability for an additional 40 min (postadaptation phase). The overall frequency of correct detections was inversely related to event rate. With the fast event rate, subjects who were initially exposed to a high signal probability detected more signals during the post-adaptation phase than those who received early exposure to a low signal probability. By contrast, the effects of signal probability were negligible within the context of a slow event rate. These results suggest some limits to the applicability of an expectancy theory of vigilance.

Maintenance of vigilance by non-task-related stimulation in the monitoring environment.

The effects of non-task-related stimulation on the performance of a simple visual vigilance task were investigated. 40 subjects monitored a stimulated CRT display for two 90-min sessions. The independent variables were variable vs constant intensity lighting and variable vs constant intensity noise. Probability of detection was not significantly different for the noise conditions; however, probability of detection was significantly higher under variable than under constant intensity lighting.

Steady State Noise and Music and Vigilance

Abstract 12 subjects were tested twice on a one-hour visual vigilance task. 6 subjects first performed the teat accompanied by continuous white noise presented at 72 dB (A). The second time they performed the test it was accompanied by music, presented at a level previously calibrated to give an. average integrated output, over one hour, of 72 dB A. A further 6 subjects performed the two tests in the reverse order. Performance was analysed into hits and false alarms at 3 levels of confidence for report. Although raw score performance did not differ between conditions, a signal detection theory analysis showed that diseriminability was higher in white noise than music. The setting of the cautious criterion showed an interaction between noise conditions and time on task.

異なる2信号頻度条件下における外向者と内向者のヴィジランス・パフォーマンス

Two groups of 20 extraverts (Es) and 20 introverts (Is), selected by the Maudsley Personality Inventory, performed a 40min visual vigilance task under two conditions of signal frequency. Under the high signal frequency condition, there was no remarkable decrement in performance over the 40min period, and the performance of Es was significantly higher than that of Is. Under the low signal frequency condition, both Es and Is showed a significant decrement in performance as a function of time, but there was no noticeable difference between the two groups. The results were discussed in reference to the notion of an inverted-U relationship between performance and arousal, but the skin conductance level taken as an index of arousal was found to vary independently of performance.

Types of music, schedules of background stimulation, and visual vigilance performance.

Studies demonstrating that background auditory stimulation affects vigilance performance have both practical implications, especially in industrial settings, and theoretical implications, especially for arousal theory. Davenport (1974) investigated the effects of background music on an observer's monitoring efficiency in a visual vigilance task. His music was background-type instrumental music, and he used continuous music, music under a fixed interval temporal schedule, music under a variable interval temporal schedule, and music under a random interval temporal schedule. Responding to vertical signals made on a static sine-wave pattern on an oscilloscope was best under the random interval, followed closely by the variable interval, with the other two schedules being similar and less effective. As a follow-up, the present study examined effects of different types of music on performance on a signal detection task, using thrce of the same temporal schedules. This study employed the same type of relaxing instrumental music along with a more vigorous form of contemporary vocal and instrumental rock music (both at 70 db). On the basis of arousal theory and in accordance with previous studies, the vigilance task should be more efficiently performed under a random condition than under either a fixed interval or continuous schedule for both rypes of music. Also, the more vigorous rock music should be associared with better performance than rhe instrumental music. The basic procedure was identical to Davenport's (1974). Subjects responded to a signal which was a .SO-sec. increase in amplitude (.05 v added to a baseline of .20 v/un: 5 cm basic amplitude) of a static sine-wave pattern presented on an IBM Type 535 oscilloscope, by indicating as quickly as possible whenever they detected a signal. The intersignal intervals were those used by Davenport (1974). Half of the subjects heard easylistening music and half heard rock music. Davenport's continuous, fixed interval, and random interval schedules were used as a within-subjects variable (see Davenport, 1974, for specific details on these schedules). Complete berween-subjects counterbalancing of schedules was used. Each schedule was presented for 20 min.. making a total watch of 60 min. Three male and three female undergraduates were randomly assigned to each type of music. Subjects made very few false positive errors, and no systematic differences in these errors were apparent. A two-way analysis of variance on the number of correct detections showed performance was significantly better with the rock than with the easy-listening music (F = 10.29, df = 1/10, p < .01) and was a function of the schedules of background stimulation (F = 164.36, df = 2/20, p < .001). More correct detections were made with the random interval (M = 21.92, SD = 2.75) than with the fixed interval (M = 17.00, SD = 2.04) schedule (Duncan's range test, p < ,001). Both schedules led to greater accuracy than the continuous music (M = 14.67, SD = 2.81, Duncan's range test, p < .05). Performance under the three schedules did not differ as a function of type of background music. It appears vigilance performance is best when background stimulation is discontinuous and contains elements of uncertainty (as in the rock music which was more diversified, vigorous, and changeable than the easy-listening music).

Effects of shifts in the rate of repetitive stimulation on sustained attention

The effects of shifts in the rate of presentation of repetitive neutral events (background event rate) were studied in a visual vigilance task. Four groups of subjects experienced either a high (21 events/min) or a low (6 events/min) event rate for 20 min and then experienced either the same or the alternate event rate for an additional 40 min. The temporal occurrence of critical target signals was identical for all groups, irrespective of event rate. The density of critical signals was 12 signals/20 min. By the end of the session, shifts in event rate were associated with changes in performance which resembled contrast effects found in other experimental situations in which shift paradigms were used. Relative to constant event rate control conditions, a shift from a low to a high event rate depressed the probability of signal detections, while a shift in the opposite direction enhanced the probability of signal detections.

Sex Differences and Effects of Irrelevant Auditory Stimulation on Performance of a Visual Vigilance Task

80 Ss participated in a visual vigilance task under one of 4 background-noise conditions. Results indicated that (a) female Ss showed a greater time-related performance decrement in correct detections than males in the regular-intermittent background condition, (b) RTs increased with time, (c) males responded more rapidly than females, (d) intermittent noise attenuated time-related changes in incorrect detections, (e) males made more incorrect detections than females in the intermittent background conditions but not in the constant-background conditions, and (f) there was a sex × trial block interaction in the constant noise condition. Several correlations between and within response measures were reported.

Arousal Theory and Vigilance: Schedules for Background Stimulation

Summary The effect on an observer's monitoring efficiency in a visual vigilance task of having one of four irrelevant background music schedules (continuous music, music under a fixed interval temporal schedule, music under a variable interval temporal schedule, music under a random interval temporal schedule) present during the watch was assessed. Results showed significantly different correct detection rates and response latencies for signals presented under the different background schedules, with the random interval background being superior followed closely by the variable interval background, the other two schedules being similar and much less effective. Some differential results were obtained for males and females, and these were considered important for future research. Results appeared to have both practical and theoretical interest and were interpreted as generally favoring the arousal theory of vigilance. Suggestions were made for future research.

The effects of music and task difficulty on performance at a visual vigilance task : Davies, D.R., Lang, L., and Shackleton V.J.British Journal of Psychology, Aug 1973, 64.3,pp 383–389

The effects of music and task difficulty on performance at a visual vigilance task : Davies, D.R., Lang, L., and Shackleton V.J.British Journal of Psychology, Aug 1973, 64.3,pp 383–389

Differences in the Vigilance Performance of Second-Grade Children as Related to Sex and Achievement

KIRCHNER, GRACE L., and KNOPF, IRWIN J. Differences in the Vigilance Performance of SecondGrade Children as Related to Sex and Achievement. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1974, 45, 490-495. 64 middleto upper-middle-class, white, second-grade children were tested on a visual vigilance task. They were selected on the basis of their scores on the Stanford Achievement Test in order to form high and low achievement groups. The vigilance task consisted of a 30-minute movie of a stationary jet plane. The children responded to a change in the star on the plane's fuselage, which occurred a total of 24 times at predetermined intervals of 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds. The high achievers made a greater number of correct detections (p < .01) and a fewer number of false responses (p < .01), and there was a significant decline in the number of correct detections over time (p < .05). There were no sex differences in performance, and there was no relationship between performance and interval length.

Effects of visual and auditory knowledge of results and reward on vigilance performance.

The effects of several procedures for providing knowledge of results (KR) and monetary reward on performance of a visual vigilance task were investigated. 72 Ss monitored a simulated CRT for 3 hr. The independent variables were visual KR versus no visual KR, auditory KR versus no auditory KR, and performance-contingent monetary reward versus noncontingent monetary reward. Probability of detection was significantly higher for the knowledge of results conditions and for performance-contingent reward than for the respective control conditions. The most effective treatment combination was visual knowledge of results combined with performance-contingent reward.

Assessment of introversion-extraversion in children: brief report.

An attempt to replicate the results of Casey and McManis (1971), showing that high-extravert children salivated significantly less to lemon juice than did low-extravert children, produced negative results. Although group differences were in the predicted direction, the differences were nonsignificant, with the differences more marked for 18 girls than for 18 boys. A visual vigilance task also failed to produce significantly fewer correct responses by high-extravert children than by low-extravert children, as predicted by Eysenck's formulation. For speed and accuracy of motor movement, the prediction of faster but less accurate performance by high extraverts than by low extraverts was confirmed, although the results were significant only for the boys.

Self-determined work/rest cycles in hot environments∗

Twenty-four male subjects performed a visual vigilance task under various temperature conditions (70°, 82° and 90°F, Effective Temperature, -°FET). They determined for themselves when they desired a rest from monitoring. Those subjects selecting ‘ long ’ sessions had both poorer performance scores and less accurate time estimates than their peers. The subjects in general did a poor job of relating their own thermal discomfort, drowsiness, boredom, estimates of job performance and preference for the task to their actual performance score and/or time on duty. No significant temperature effects were noted.

The effects of music and task difficulty on performance at a visual vigilance task.

Forty subjects performed a visual vigilance task in music or noise and when the task was difficult or easy. Response measures taken were: correct detections, commission errors, detection latencies and d' values. For the difficult version of the task a significant increase in detection latencies was found which music prevented. Broadly similar findings were obtained for correct detections. The results are compared with other studies of detection latency and task difficulty and are discussed in terms of arousal.

Effects of environmental variation on arousal during vigilance performance.

The present experiment investigated the effects of environmental variation on the arousal level of Ss performing a simple visual vigilance task. Two independent variables, constant vs variable-intensity lighting and constant vs variable-intensity white noise, provided four experimental conditions. Forty Ss monitored a simulated CRT display during two 90-min. sessions. Arousal was measured at the beginning and at the end of each session by means of a self-report check list. The results indicated that: (1) with variable noise, there was a greater decrease in General Activation and a greater increase in Deactivation-Sleep under variable- than under constant-intensity lighting; (2) with variable lighting, there was a greater increase in Deactivation-Sleep under variable than under constant intensity of noise; and (3) correlations among arousal and probability of detection in the vigilance task were in general low and insignificant. No support was found for the prediction from arousal theory that environmental variation enhances vigilance performance by maintaining a general state of arousal.

Attention Dysfunction in Senile Dementia

A group of 14 patients suffering from senile dementia were compared with 40 normal and 20 non-brain-damaged psychiatric controls on a visual vigilance task. The senile Ss were able to perform at a level appropriate to their ages when the task involved a simple S-R paradigm. When the complexity of the task was increased by requiring the short-term retention of response-relevant information, brain-damaged patients were markedly less efficient. Over-responsiveness was the characteristic error of the brain-damaged patients. Dementia may be associated with a disorder of selective attention.

Inter-modal and intra-subject consistency in EEG correlates of vigilance

Occipital EEG was monitored continuously for 20 subjects who took part in an auditory vigilance task and for 20 in a visual vigilance task. Ten subjects were common to both experiments. The two tasks were virtually identical. EEG samples were taken for each of 250 signal presentations. Automatic low frequency analysis was performed on 4 frequency bands between 2.0–19.5 cps. There were 5 types of signal in the task and each signal was followed by a rest period. The wanted signal was 4 consecutive odd and different digits. The other signals contained either 3 odd and 1 even digit, 2 odd and 2 even digits, 1 odd and 3 even digits or 4 even digits. Since the 5 signal types varied in their approximation to the wanted signal they were ranked on that criterion for their arousal value. There were a number of statistically significant findings as follows. A decreasing monotonic trend is demonstrated for EEG abundance across signal types, that is, EEG abundance is inversely proportional to the arousal value of the signal for both the auditory and the visual tasks. Subjects common to the 2 tasks show consistency of individual differences in the 2 EEG trends across the tasks. EEG alpha and beta abundance provide strong evidence for individual differences in the magnitude of abundance under different stimulus conditions. Subjects with faster median reaction times demonstrate a stronger EEG trend than those with slow reaction times. However, reaction time is not related to either pre-, during or post-signal presentation EEG. A decreasing monotonic trend is demonstrated for post-test subjective ratings of alertness for each signal type and also for the associated rest periods in both the auditory and the visual task. The trend in the subjective ratings for signals agrees with the trend in EEG abundance. Subjects are consistent in their ratings across the 2 tasks.

Visual attention and distraction in aphasic and non-aphasic children.

The ability to sustain visual attention was compared in 13 aphasic and 13 non-aphasic children. The aphasic children gave significantly more errors on the visual vigilance task than their controls. The difference remained under visual distraction but no significant performance reductions resulted. It was concluded that several of the aphasic children showed significant attentional deficits. The data support a need for systemaric clinical evaluation of attention in children with central language disorders.