This study examined the impact of divided attention tasks on stress using physiologic measures. The divided attention conditions included speech tasks (conversation or procedural discourse) and non-speech computer-based tasks (visuospatial, mathematical, language, data entry, or text editing). Participants included 60 adults divided into two groups of 30 by age. The young adult group ranged in age from 18-30 years and the older adults ranged from 55-82 years. Participants were required to perform the speech task and the non-speech task in isolation as well as a speech task performed concurrently with each of the non-speech tasks. The order of the tasks was randomized between participants to reduce sequencing effects. Physiologic measures include heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and galvanic skin response (GSR) using a physiologic measurement system. Statistical analysis revealed age-related physiologic differences during the performance of all tasks. All GSR measures were significantly lower in older adults. Findings also provide insight into the physiologic response to dual-task conditions. The GSR levels were lower in concurrent conditions when compared to the conversation only tasks. Additionally, GSR levels increased during math tasks when compared to visuospatial or language tasks. The results provided insight into the physiologic response to divided attention tasks. The lack of a resting baseline condition and the effects of age on the dependent measures complicated the interpretation of the findings. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of divided attention tasks on a speaker’s physiologic stress response.

This study examined the effects of concurrent speech and computer tasks on each other and on measures of physiologic arousal in 30 young adults. Physiologic measures included galvanic skin response, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Participants completed a speech-only task, two computer-based tasks, and combined speech and computer-based tasks. Participants spoke for 60 seconds on a procedural discourse prompt. Acoustic measures included the mean and standard deviation of intensity and fundamental frequency as indices of prosody, speaking time ratio to reflect pausing, and speech rate. The primary computer task (with two levels of difficulty) involved making formatting changes to a paragraph with a word processor. The secondary computer task involved data entry (typing items from a shopping list into categories in a spreadsheet). Errors were tallied for each computer task. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in words per minute in both the data entry and the easier formatting tasks; the proportion of speaking time decreased for all three concurrent computer tasks. Performance on all computer tasks was negatively impacted by speech. There was a significant decrease in the number of words correctly sorted and the number of correct formatting changes. The physiologic changes were limited; it remains unclear whether the heart rate increases during combined computer task and speaking conditions resulted from the addition of cognitive load or the respiratory changes inherent in speaking compared to silent task performance. Findings reflect bidirectional interference between speech and computer-based tasks while multitasking. These findings can help speech-pathologists to create therapy activities that are more like what patients will be experiencing in their everyday lives, such as practicing speech during computer tasks.