Critical target duration and cognitive load

In a series of three experiments, it was shown that a masking measure of mental speed was not capable of indexing cognitive load in a levels of processing task based on that of Craik and Tulving (1975). Since a number of other studies have found it possible to index cognitive load with this dependent variable, differences between the current task and those employed in other studies were considered. It was concluded that the masking procedure may only be capable of interrupting processing on a serial continuum, and that the current task may demand processing of a different nature.