The Detrimental Effects of Working Memory Load on a Sustained Attention Task: The Elimination of a Cueing Effect with Distraction.

What effect does working memory load have on attentional processes? The effect of performing a working memory task on a sustained attention 'Posner paradigm' was examined. Participants were cued to one side of visual space and indicated as quickly as possible the side on which targets appeared via a key press response. The task was performed with and without a dual-task of mental math. The mental math task led to an overall slowing of responses and the elimination of the cueing effect observed in the no-task condition. Thus, reaction time advantages afforded by attention are negated by working memory load.