Effects of Visual and Auditory Stimuli on Performance During Sustained Attention Task

• Published in: Meandros medical and dental journal Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 41 - 46
• Main Authors: Şendülger, Yamaç, Adalı, Sevim, Kılıç, Fatma, Akın, Güliz, Ergönül, İpek, İnanç, Gonca, Taşlıca, Serhat, Özgören, Murat, Öniz, Adile
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Aydın Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi 01-04-2020; Galenos Publishing House
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Attention task; Auditory stimuli; Emotions; Hearing; Instrumental music; Listening; Problem solving; Reading comprehension; Sensory integration; Statistical analysis; Tıp; Visual stimuli; Workloads; Aydın; vigilance; işitsel uyaran; uyanıklık; Sustained attention; Sürdürülebilir dikkat; auditory stimulus; visual stimulus; görsel uyaran
• ISSN: 2149-9063; 2149-9063
• DOI: 10.4274/meandros.galenos.2019.03521

Objective: Although many studies are investigating the effects of stimuli on
sustained attention performance, only a few studies compare auditory, visual and
neutral conditions. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of visual and
auditory stimuli on performance during sustained attention task.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-six volunteers participated in this study.
Participants executed sustained attention task in three different sessions. In the
“auditory” session, participants listened to a highly paced folk music during the
Mackworth Clock test. In the “visual” session, happy emoticons were presented
around the test screen. In the “neutral” session, the test was carried out without
any extra stimulus. The order of sessions was randomised. The time interval between
sessions was at least 48 hours, and each session took 5 minute. The reaction times
of all responses and correct responses and correct response rates were evaluated.
Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Friedman tests were used depending
on the distribution characteristics of data.
Results: The reaction times of all responses or correct responses alone did not differ
significantly among sessions. The correct response rates were 91.18%, 89.74% and
89.24% for the auditory, neutral and visual sessions, respectively. However, no
statistically significant difference was found when these sessions were compared.
Conclusion: Music was expected to improve performance in a sustained attention
test, which is not complex but difficult because of monotony, like Mackworth Clock
test. Visual stimuli are expected to hamper performance, as they share the modality
of the test. Although data had this trend, no statistically significant difference was
found. Further research with increased number of participants and more difficult
Mackworth Clock test, by extending its duration and using different types of music
and visuals, is warranted.