Detection Response Task (DRT)

The Detection Response Task (DRT) is an ISO standardized task (ISO 17488) that can be used to measure the attentive effects of cognitive load. Cognitive load can be understood as the load associated with mentation. Therefore, the DRT can be used in applied settings where, for example, cognitive tasks (e.g. auditory n-back task, mental arithmetic, speech-interaction) are to be performed and evaluated. The DRT is a relatively simple method: a signal (visual, tactile, acoustic) is presented to a participant, to which he or she responds via button press. Performance of the DRT is assessed as RTs (time elapsed between signal and response) and hit rates (ratio of responses and presented signals). The DRT permits an evaluation of tasks based on its performance during a period of time where it was concurrently performed together with the task under investigation. For driving relevant tasks, the DRT and task under investigation may be concurrently performed in addition to a driving task.