To monitor an individual's attention resources during a task, you can apply DRT mode through the planner builder. DRT mode adds a secondary response, randomly appearing in the top right of the screen, to measure attentional resources.
DRT Analysis with Soma Analytics:
Analyze the data by comparing the primary task's reaction time to the DRT reaction time, which can be found in the tooltip.
If the DRT reaction time is slower than the primary task's, it indicates that the primary task was using more attentional resources.
Conversely, a quicker DRT reaction time suggests that the primary task required fewer attentional resources.
This approach is valuable for identifying tasks that demand more attentional resources and for monitoring changes in attentional resources over time. As attentional capacity improves, the difference between the DRT and primary task reaction times should decrease.
Task Mode | DRT (Detection-Response Task) |
Purpose | Monitor attentional resources |
Analysis | Compare primary task vs. DRT times |
DRT Reaction Time | Measures time for secondary response |
Attention Resources | Slower DRT time indicates more attentional resources used.
Quicker DRT time suggests lower resource demands. |
Improved Capacity | Reduction in DRT-primary task time gap signifies improved attentional capacity. |