Description
This study mainly focused on the load theory of selective attention proposed by Lavie, Hirst, and de Frockert (2004), which identified that high perceptual loads and high cognitive loads yield higher detections of irrelevant stimuli in selective attention tasks. A directional flanker task was used to study changing cognitive loads while maintaining two fixed levels of perceptual load. Two experiments were completed in this study; Experiment 1 revealed significance in the effects of the flanker task, specifically the congruent and neutral trials exhibiting significantly faster reaction times than the incongruent trials. Experiment 2 revealed significance in the effects of the flanker task and changing cognitive loads, demonstrated by feedback. Based on these findings, this study concluded that both perceptual load and cognitive load influence reaction times.