Tarefas experimentais e teste de atenção concentrada (AC): implicações para o trânsito

Abstract

Several authors investigate the processes of attention considering just a multifaceted character according to its operationalization (Lima, 2005), although some aspects may be shared. This study was aimed at investigating possible correlations between Concentrated Attention Test (CA) and three experimental tasks classical in research processes of attention. The first consisted of an inhibitory control task using a Continuous Development Test (CDT). The second task investigated the process of orienting of the focus (Posner, Snyder& Davidson, 1980), while a third task manipulated the perceptual load on a visual selection task (Lavie, 1995). Separate analyzes were conducted to measure the Performance in two dependent variables, the Speed of Processing, which was assessed by the reaction time (RT) and the accuracy, which was analyzed on two levels: number of errors of commission and the number of errors of omission. The study included 97 volunteers, who showed as a participation criteria, non clinical complains, total or corrected visual acuity, and aged between 18 and 64 years. The sample was divided into two age groups: aged between 18 and 30 years old, with 26 female participants (mean = 22.3 years old) and 37 male participants (mean = 22 years old) and aged between 31 and 64 years old, with 11 female participants (mean = 43.1 years old) and 23 male participants (mean = 45.6 years old). The correlations between the results of the AC Test and the three experimental tasks indicates a positive correlation between the AC with the task of perceptual load in both age groups, suggesting that the effect of perceptual load affects the information processing of visual space directly proportional to the individual\'s ability to focus attention on a task under time pressure. The correlation between the test Concentrated Attention AC and experimental task shifting attention was also positive, as evidenced in the age group of 31 to 64 years old, or on the correlation among the participants\' performance in general. This data points to the fact that the faster the individual can disengage the attention, turn it moving the focus, and re-engage it in next target, the greater their ability to concentrate and their efficiency in tasks performed in time will be. Finally, there was a positive correlation between the perceptual load task and the displacement of attention on the visual field suggesting that the displacement of the focus of attention occurs more efficiently at low perceptual load situations enabling the processing of distracters stimuli or of irrelevant information out of the served area.