Participants reproduced either how long a visual sequence lasted or how its elements were arranged while a second, irrelevant dimension was sometimes present. Having to monitor both dimensions slowed and degraded performance overall, showing a general processing cost. On top of that, the exact content of the distracting dimension systematically shifted people’s reports about the target dimension, revealing targeted interference that depends on what people see and hear.
For anyone interested in human potential, this study matters because it maps how intertwined basic mental systems are when we multitask or learn complex skills. The findings suggest that training, design, and inclusive learning strategies should account for two-way influences between space and time. Follow the link to explore how these mechanisms work and what they might mean for improving attention, accessibility, and skill development.
Abstract
The relationship between spatial and temporal processing remains a topic of ongoing debate. While several theories propose an asymmetrical influence of space on time, others suggest a bidirectional relationship with shared cognitive resources. This study introduces a novel paradigm that compares a single-task baseline with a distracting “dual-task” condition to deconstruct the nature of this interplay. Participants reproduced either the duration or the spatial configuration of visual sequences in which one (single task) or two dimensions (distracting dual task) were presented. Results revealed a significant general processing cost, with performance worsening for both time and space judgments when the other dimension was present. More interestingly, results also revealed content-dependent interference between the two dimensions, with the magnitude of the irrelevant dimension systematically modulating judgments of the target dimension. The evidence for bidirectional, content-dependent interference challenges the notion of a purely asymmetrical relationship. Overall, by dissociating general processing costs from specific interference, we provide a more nuanced model of the highly interconnected, bidirectional relationship between space and time.
