Multitasking, the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, has been a topic of extensive research for decades. However, the majority of studies have focused on dual-task scenarios, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how individuals navigate more complex multitasking environments. This dissertation aims to narrow this gap somewhat by introducing a triple-task paradigm, which involves the simultaneous execution of three tasks: a visual-manual task, a visual-pedal task, and an auditory-vocal task. The first contribution explored the performance dynamics of the triple-task paradigm, comparing it to single-task and dual-task conditions. Results showed that participants (N = 19) performed best after three sessions on single tasks, followed by dual tasks, and worst on the triple task. Interestingly, participants tended to coordinate the manual and pedal tasks, responding simultaneously in most cases. This finding suggests that strategic components play a significant role in managing multiple tasks and that tasks may be structured hierarchically in triple-task scenarios. The second contribution investigated the impact of dual-task training on tripletask performance over up to 17 sessions. Participants who had undergone dual-task training (N = 13) showed a preference for the previously learned stimulus-response mappings, while those without prior training (N = 14) favored the visual-manual and visual-pedal tasks over the auditory-vocal task. By the end of the triple-task training, both groups showed significant improvements in response times, although the response times remained higher than those observed in dual-task studies. This dissertation discusses the challenges of selecting appropriate tasks for a triple-task paradigm, calculating multitasking costs, and the implications for current multitasking models. It highlights the limitations of current models, especially structural models like bottleneck models, and suggests that resource models may offer better predictions for triple-task scenarios. This dissertation demonstrates that triple-task paradigms utilize cognitive resources differently compared to dual-task research, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive models that account for the complexities of human cognition in multitasking scenarios. Future research should explore the impact of strategies, task combinations, and stimulus onset asynchronies on triple-task performance to bridge the gap between micro-level and macro-level approaches to multitasking research further.    «

Multitasking, the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, has been a topic of extensive research for decades. However, the majority of studies have focused on dual-task scenarios, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how individuals navigate more complex multitasking environments. This dissertation aims to narrow this gap somewhat by introducing a triple-task paradigm, which involves the simultaneous execution of three tasks: a visual-manual task, a visual-pedal task, and a...    »