Task absorption and job demands: exploring task performance through neural and pupillary data
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v8i2.390Keywords:
Absorption, Task performance, Job demands, Resources, EpisodesAbstract
This study investigates the relationship between task characteristics, episodic absorption, and performance, based on the job demands-resources theory. Given that modern tasks often require processing substantial data and making real-time decisions, they demand significant attentional focus. Absorption, defined as a temporary state of deep attentional engagement, is thought to enhance task performance and efficiency. To explore this, we conducted an n-back task with participants, a task that requires focused, voluntary attentional control. Physiological and neural data were collected, with a particular focus on pupillary dynamics and the P300 wave, an event-related potential marker associated with attentional and cognitive processes. The study aimed to test three hypotheses: (a) absorption, as a temporary cognitive state, enhances performance and task efficiency; (b) absorption episodes are linked to activation in the P300 wave and pupillary responses; and (c) task demands and resources significantly impact the occurrence of absorption episodes. Specifically, we expected high job demands coupled with high resources to result in frequent absorption episodes, while high demands with low resources and low demands with high resources would lead to fewer episodes. Findings from this research may provide insights into how task design and resource allocation influence cognitive engagement, shedding light on optimal work conditions that foster absorption and improve performance. This research has potential applications in designing tasks and environments that promote sustained attentional engagement, ultimately contributing to more effective, resource-aligned organizational practices.
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