The role of inhibition in increasing the demand for simple counting tasks

• Grant number: 17/11545-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2017
• End date: November 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Cognitive Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Orlando Francisco Amodeo Bueno
• Grantee: Deborah Amanda Lima Rossetti
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cognitive Load Theory and Dual Information Processing Theory are complementary, and present causal factors and assessment factors respectively, which together will define cognitive effort and result in performance. Cognitive effort is the use of the ability of cognitive resources by an individual. Data such as pupil dilation, flashing, and self-report scales are ways of measuring this ability, and the combined use of these indices provides a deeper insight into the phenomenon. The study by Alves (2013) showed that during the Number Count task (from one to ten) a beep was emitted by a metronome in an intermediate way to the target beeps. This manipulation increased the rates of cognitive effort, and the hypothesis is that this change is related to the inhibitory control. Inhibition of response is related to executive functions, which contribute to the individual's efficiency in acquiring new knowledge and problem solving. The present project seeks to understand how this manipulation of the task may be related to inhibition. For this purpose, pupilometric data will be used to measure cognitive effort, correlating these data and behavioral results of the GAN and Stroop tasks, in addition to the NASA TLX Scale as a subjective measure of Cognitive Effort and Performance. The study will have 40 adult participants aged between 18 and 30 years, of both sexes, who should have Portuguese as their first language, matched for age and schooling. (AU)