Executive Function2–3 minBurden: MediumEMA: Low

Dual-Task Tracking

A divided-attention task measuring performance costs when a motor tracking task and a cognitive classification task are done simultaneously.

Divided attentionDual-task performanceExecutive control
Category
Executive Function
Typical duration
2–3 min
Participant burden
Medium
EMA suitability
Low

Try this task

Configure parameters and run an interactive preview exactly as participants will experience it. No data is recorded.

Configure preview

Adjust parameters below, then start the preview on the right.

Include practice trials

Shown with feedback before the main task

Task parameters

Three conditions run in sequence: tracking only → rest → digit odd/even → rest → dual. Outputs: dual-task cost for tracking and classification.

2–3 minBurden: MediumEMA: Low

This is a researcher preview. No participant data is recorded.

Simulated participant view

9:41

Dual-Task Tracking

A divided-attention task measuring performance costs when a motor tracking task and a cognitive classification task are done simultaneously.

No data is recorded

Participant experience on smartphone

Three successive conditions: tracking a drifting ball with arrow buttons, classifying digit parity (odd/even), and doing both simultaneously.

When to use

Useful when the study needs a measure of dual-task cost or attentional resource competition. Particularly relevant in ageing, fall risk, fatigue, and multitasking research.

When not to use

Not suitable for high-frequency EMA because the three-condition structure makes each session nearly three minutes long. The task also has non-trivial onboarding demands.

How to use in a study

Use the dual-task cost metrics (single minus dual performance) as the primary outcome rather than absolute performance levels. Ensure participants practice the single tasks individually before the dual condition.

Researcher-configurable parameters

  • Tracking-only duration
  • Cognitive-only duration
  • Dual condition duration
  • Digit presentation interval

Outputs collected

  • Tracking accuracy — single task
  • Tracking accuracy — dual task
  • Tracking dual-task cost
  • Classification accuracy — single task
  • Classification accuracy — dual task
  • Classification dual-task cost
  • Classification reaction time — single and dual

Interpretation notes

Dual-task cost = single-task performance minus dual-task performance. Larger costs indicate poorer attentional resource allocation under load.

Scientific evidence

  • Smartphone dual-task paradigms have been used to assess divided attention in ageing and clinical populations.
  • Ball-tracking with a concurrent cognitive load is a common laboratory procedure that transfers to touchscreen interaction.

Read more

Related tasks

Use in your study

Add this task to your ESM study on SMAAT — free to get started.

Sign up free →