Simultaneous mental updating in physical space and number space

Abstract

People can track moving objects after they disappear or become occluded. For instance, they can estimate the position of a car after it goes behind a truck. People can also track through feature space after occlusion. For instance, they can estimate the current number on a hidden stopwatch. Previous work has suggest that a common rate control module paces mental updating in both physical space and number-space. We tested this by comparing single and dual task conditions. On every trial, participants observed a moving target-counter travel clockwise round a circular track. In the then disappeared for 2, 4, 6 or 8 seconds, and beep sounded. In the single task blocks, participants either estimated the final position or the final number. In the dual task block, they estimated final position and final number. Performance was very similar in single and dual task blocks. This suggests people can extrapolate through physical space and number space simultaneously. This is a challenge to the common rate control model, which implies there should be some dual task interference. We conclude that if a common rate controller exists, it is capable of pacing simultaneous mental simulations in different dimensions.