Coordinating multiple tasks requires a high degree of cognitive control, and individuals
with limited executive functions often show difficulties in everyday multitasking. We
tested the hypothesis that demands on executive control can be alleviated by
internally representing the temporal pattern of goals and deadlines as spatial relations.
In two experiments, participants completed a multitasking session by monitoring
deadlines of four clocks running at different rates, along with separate tasks of
executive functioning and spatial ability. In Experiment 1, individual and gender-related
differences in spatial ability (mental rotation) predicted multitasking performance,
beyond the contributions of both the updating and inhibition components of
executive functioning, and even when spatial cues were eliminated from the layout of
the monitoring task. Experiment 2 extended these findings by showing that concurrent
spatial load impaired task monitoring accuracy, and that these detrimental effects were
accentuated when spatial abilities were compromized due to fluctuation in female sex
hormones. These findings suggest that multiple task monitoring involves working
memory-related functions, but that these cognitive control demands can be offloaded
by relying on spatial relation processes.
