Enhancing performance with multisensory cues in a realistic target discrimination task

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 5;17(8):e0272320. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272320. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Making decisions is an important aspect of people's lives. Decisions can be highly critical in nature, with mistakes possibly resulting in extremely adverse consequences. Yet, such decisions have often to be made within a very short period of time and with limited information. This can result in decreased accuracy and efficiency. In this paper, we explore the possibility of increasing speed and accuracy of users engaged in the discrimination of realistic targets presented for a very short time, in the presence of unimodal or bimodal cues. More specifically, we present results from an experiment where users were asked to discriminate between targets rapidly appearing in an indoor environment. Unimodal (auditory) or bimodal (audio-visual) cues could shortly precede the target stimulus, warning the users about its location. Our findings show that, when used to facilitate perceptual decision under time pressure, and in condition of limited information in real-world scenarios, spoken cues can be effective in boosting performance (accuracy, reaction times or both), and even more so when presented in bimodal form. However, we also found that cue timing plays a critical role and, if the cue-stimulus interval is too short, cues may offer no advantage. In a post-hoc analysis of our data, we also show that congruency between the response location and both the target location and the cues, can interfere with the speed and accuracy in the task. These effects should be taken in consideration, particularly when investigating performance in realistic tasks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention* / physiology
  • Auditory Perception / physiology
  • Cues*
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology
  • Humans
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Visual Perception / physiology

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge support of the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under grant EP/P009204/1. This is part of the collaboration between US DOD, UK MOD and UK EPSRC under the Multi-disciplinary University Research Initiative. Dstl contributed to the early stages of the study design, and had no role in data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. EPSRC had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. This article is an overview of UK MOD sponsored research and is released for informational purposes only. The contents of this article should not be interpreted as representing the views of the UK MOD, nor should it be assumed that they reflect any current or future UK MOD policy. The information contained in this article cannot supersede any statutory or con-tractual requirements or liabilities and is offered without prejudice or commitment.