Abstract
The overarching goal of this study is to explore the relationship between working memory and flight control performance. To this end, unfortunately, the code-independent processes utilized by one’s working memory are not reflected meaningfully within models of multitask performance such as the prominent and widely utilized 4D Multiple Resource Model (Wickens, 2002, 2008). Interestingly, contemporary working memory models such as the dichotomous Online-Offline Memory Model (Awh & Vogel, 2020; Foster, Vogel, & Awh, 2019) delineate the manner in which performance can be differentially driven by online (i.e., the “working” aspect) and/or offline (i.e., long-term) memory representations, and how these representations can transition between memory states as facilitated by a limited number of dynamically related and highly correlated attentional control processes. The processes are referred to herein, collectively, as working memory-related attentional control (WM-AC). Generally speaking, a task’s requirements for WM-AC depend on whether there is a need for the reconciliation of uncertain associations between task-relevant cues and responses during task completion. The argument is made here that at a high-level, in an applied sense, it is justifiable to treat WM-AC as a “resource” that may be traded off between tasks. Further, in this treatment, predictions can be made as to the quality of performance on individual tasks, within an ensemble, as a function of whether relative allocations of WM-AC result in task-completion being driven primarily by online as compared to offline memory representations. A 5D Multiple Resource Model is proposed that includes the original resource dimensions described by the 4D Multiple Resource Model plus an embedded continuous dimension reflecting WM-AC. In a dual task paradigmatic experiment, using virtual reality, licensed pilots (n = 20) performed simulated flight tasks in concurrence with a secondary task (the N-back) which allowed for the manipulation of WM-AC. Generally, the results indicated that flight control does require WM-AC, and that competition from a WM-AC “resource” competing secondary task can lead to worse flight performance. The empirical evidence provides preliminary support for the inclusion of an embedded WM-AC dimension within a 5D Multiple Resource Model.