Study of How Multitasking Practice Changes Brain Activity in the Frontal Cortex and Affects Multitasking Skills in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 35

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how practicing multitasking affects brain activity and behavior related to performing multiple tasks at once. This trial focuses on healthy adults aged 18 to 35 with normal or corrected vision. It aims to understand changes in brain patterns, especially in the lateral prefrontal cortex, that might predict improvements in multitasking ability. Participants will be randomly assigned to practice multitasking or single-task activities to compare effects on their brain and behavior. Participants will receive either multitask practice, where they perform two tasks simultaneously using a psychological refractory period procedure, or single-task practice, where they practice each task separately. Both groups will complete 3 practice sessions with up to 48 blocks of practice. Before and after the practice period, participants will undergo assessments using behavioral tasks and functional MRI scans to measure brain activity and task performance. The study involves 14 sessions total, including initial consent and familiarization, baseline assessments, practice sessions, and endline assessments. During MRI visits, participants will perform tasks while brain imaging is conducted. Researchers will collect data on multitasking behavior, neural patterns in the brain, and task-related performance. Outcomes include changes in brain task representations and multitasking costs, monitored over about 1.5 years. Participants will be given feedback during practice and compensated for their time.

Cognitive Control & the Functional Organization of the Frontal Cortex