Cognitive-energetic model

In children, slow pacing slowed responses; fast pacing raised errors

Research-backed

When task pacing changes, slow responses and pressing when no response is required need separate consideration. A meta-analysis of child studies found that, with slower stimuli, the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group responded more slowly than controls, with a larger gap. With faster stimuli, the gap in presses when no response was required was larger(Metin et al., 2012).

Knowing how and being able to use that skill are separate issues

Proposed in research

Sergeant’s model proposes three layers that jointly affect performance: processes for recognizing and handling information and organizing responses; states such as arousal, activation, and effort; and executive function that coordinates these processes. It focuses especially on how activation and effort relate to organizing responses(Sergeant, 2000; Sergeant, 2005).

On this account, poor performance under one task condition does not mean the ability to complete the task is missing.

Variable response speed does not always mean “low energy”

Research-backed

The same meta-analysis found no effect of task pacing on response-time variability. After accounting for pacing, the ADHD group still differed from controls on all performance measures. Variable response speed alone therefore does not validate this model(Metin et al., 2012).