Signal salience and the mindlessness theory of vigilance
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2008
Department
Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences
Abstract
The present study was designed to explore whether sustained attention tasks can be adequately described by a mindlessness perspective or a limited resource perspective. One hundred and seventy six participants (88 women and 88 men) were assigned at random to one of two signal salience conditions: high and low. Performance and self-reported states, Energetic Arousal, Tense Arousal, Task-Related-Thoughts, and Task-Unrelated-Thoughts, were collected. Overall performance efficiency and the rate of the vigilance decrement were influenced by the salience level of the signal being observed. Post-task self-reports of Task-Unrelated-Thoughts were significantly related to overall performance efficiency, but not with the vigilance decrement. Post-task self-reports of Energetic Arousal were significantly related to both overall performance and the vigilance decrement. The results support a resource theory perspective in regards to the vigilance decrement and are in contradiction to the mindlessness theory in regards to the vigilance decrement.
Publication Title
Acta Psychologica
Recommended Citation
Helton, W.,
&
Warm, J.
(2008).
Signal salience and the mindlessness theory of vigilance.
Acta Psychologica,
129(1), 18-25.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.04.002
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/5899