Attention and Information Processing (6B) Practice Test

A cognitive psychology experiment tests divided attention (allocating attention to two tasks at the same time). Participants perform a visual task: press a button when a blue circle appears among gray circles. In some blocks they do only this task. In other blocks they simultaneously perform an auditory task: count backward by 3s aloud. Reaction time and accuracy are measured for the visual task.

Based on divided attention theory, which effect is most consistent with the dual-task condition compared with the single-task condition?

In an emotional interference study, participants searched for a neutral target shape among distractors. On some trials, an irrelevant fearful face appeared briefly near the target. Attentional capture occurs when a stimulus draws attention away from the goal. Which outcome would most likely be observed if fearful faces capture attention?