Analysis of Processing Demands in Partial Report

Abstract

Processing demands in the Sperling (1960) whole- and partial-report tasks were evaluated with the simple reaction-time probe procedure. 6 subjects responded to a buzzer probe presented at various temporal locations in the processing interval associated with performance in whole or partial report. The results showed relative increases in processing demands in partial report in the temporal vicinity (± 200 msec.) of the delivery of the auditory indicator cue as indicated by increases in probe reaction-time. Furthermore, reacting to the probe during this interval interfered with partial-report performance. This mutual interference was not detected when whole report was performed concurrently with the probe task. The results were interpreted in terms of an analysis of central processing capacity.