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A dual-task is a procedure in which subjects are asked to perform two tasks simultaneously. Humans often show performance deficits in one or both of the component tasks in the dual-task. This effect, known as dual-task interference, is thought to reflect the fundamental characteristics of higher-order cognitive functions such as attention and working memory, therefore human dual-task performance has been extensively studied in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Despite many decades of research, our understanding regarding the mechanisms underlying dual-task performance is still limited due to the lack of animal models that are amenable to direct recording of neuronal signals during dual-task performance. In this review, we first outline the history of dual-task research in human cognitive psychology. We then review the major trends of dual-task research in human functional neuroimaging studies, and discuss how these studies contributed to the understanding of neural mechanisms underlying dual-task performance. Finally, we review recent advances in behavioral and neurophysiological studies in nonhuman primates, and discuss how the development of animal models of dual-task performance will shed new light in these areas.