Preparing or Executing the Wrong Task: The Influence on Switch Effects

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1172-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Desmet ◽  
Wim Fias ◽  
Marcel Brass
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Original Study ◽  
Stimulus Response ◽  
Task Preparation ◽  
Response Execution ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Response Errors ◽  
Bivalent Stimulus ◽  
Task Activation

In a previous study, it was proposed that executing a task leads to task strengthening. In other words, task activation at the moment of response execution determines subsequent switch effects (Steinhauser & Hübner, 2006). The authors investigated this issue by comparing switch effects after task and response errors. However, the use of bivalent stimulus–response mappings might have obscured some of the effects. Therefore, we replicated the experiment using univalent stimulus–response mappings. With this adjusted design, which overcomes some shortcomings of the original study, we were able to replicate the finding of switch benefits after task errors. Closer inspection of the data showed the importance of preexecution processes on subsequent switch effects. In a second experiment, we further elaborated on these preexecution processes. More precisely, we investigated the effect of task preparation on subsequent switch effects. Taken together, our data extend current accounts of task switching by showing that the preparatory processes occurring before the response on trial n influence the switch cost on trial n + 1.

Selective Stopping in Task Switching

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Verbruggen ◽  
Baptist Liefooghe ◽  
André Vandierendonck
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Response Selection ◽  
Response Execution ◽  
Distinct Role

Recently, several studies stressed the role of response selection in cued task switching. The present study tried to investigate directly the hypothesis that no switch cost can be found when there was no response selection. In two experiments, we combined a cued task switching paradigm with the selective stopping paradigm. Results of the experiments demonstrated that a switch cost was found when participants selected a response, even without response execution. Alternatively, when the response was inhibited without the need of response selection, no switch cost was found. These results provide direct evidence for the distinct role of response selection in cued task switching and suggest that response execution is not a necessary factor to obtain a switch cost.

scholarly journals Flexibility in task switching by monolinguals and bilinguals

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
MELODY WISEHEART ◽  
MYTHILI VISWANATHAN ◽  
ELLEN BIALYSTOK
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Mixing Effect ◽  
Stimulus Response ◽  
Task Block ◽  
Multiple Languages ◽  
Regular Practice

Many bilinguals routinely switch between their languages, yet mixed evidence exists about the transfer of language switching skills to broader domains that require attentional control such as task switching. Monolingual and bilingual young adults performed a nonverbal task-switching paradigm in which they viewed colored pictures of animals and indicated either the animal or its color in response to a cue. Monolinguals and bilinguals performed similarly when switching between tasks (local switch cost) in a mixed-task block, but bilinguals demonstrated a smaller mixing effect (global switch cost) than monolinguals, indicating better ability to reconfigure stimulus–response associations. These results suggest that regular practice using multiple languages confers a broader executive function advantage shown as improved flexibility in task switching.

scholarly journals Stimulus–response complexity influences task-set inhibition in task switching

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10988
Author(s):  
Li Zhao ◽  
Saisai Hu ◽  
Yingying Xia ◽  
Jinyu Li ◽  
Jingjing Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Additional Experiment ◽  
Task Set ◽  
Cognitive Resource ◽  
Stimulus Response ◽  
Difficult Condition ◽  
Easy Condition ◽  
Inhibition Performance ◽  
The Impact

Previous studies have found that inhibiting a task set plays an important role in task switching. However, the impact of stimulus–response (S–R) complexity on this inhibition processing has not been explored. In this study, we applied the backward inhibition paradigm (switching between tasks A, B, and C, presented in sets of three) in order to investigate inhibition performance under different S–R complexities caused by corresponding S–R mappings. The results showed that the difficult condition resulted in a greater switch cost than the moderate and easy conditions. Furthermore, we found a significant n−2 repetition cost under the easy S–R complexity that was reversed under the difficult S–R complexity. To verify stability of the reversed n−2 repetition cost in the difficult condition, we recruited another independent sample to conduct an additional experiment with the difficult condition. These results replicated the reversed n−2 repetition cost. These findings suggest that S–R complexity affects task-set inhibition in task switching because the effect of the task-set inhibition was insignificant when the S–R complexity increased; it was only significant under the easy condition. This result was caused by the different cognitive resource assignments.

scholarly journals Measuring habit formation through goal-directed response switching

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Luque ◽  
Sara Molinero ◽  
Poppy Watson ◽  
Francisco J. López ◽  
Mike Le Pelley
Keyword(s):  
Learning Theory ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Reward Learning ◽  
Stimulus Response ◽  
Response Switching ◽  
Directed System ◽  
Habitual Behavior ◽  
Reliable Marker ◽  
Translational Models

Reward-learning theory views habits as stimulus–response links formed through extended reward training. Accordingly, animal research has shown that actions that are initially goal-directed can become habitual after operant overtraining. However, a similar demonstration is absent in human research, which poses a serious problem for translational models of behavior. We propose that response-time (RT) switch cost after operant training can be used as a new, reliable marker for the operation of the habit system in humans. Using a new method, we show that RT switch cost demonstrates the properties that would be expected of a habitual behavior: (1) it increases with overtraining; (2) it increases when rewards are larger, and (3) it increases when time pressure is added to the task, thereby hindering the competing goal-directed system. These results offer a promising new pathway for studying the operation of the habit system in humans.

scholarly journals Psychometric proprieties of a color-shape version of the switch task

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (23 Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S4.1-S4
Author(s):  
Veronik Sicard ◽  
Alexe Simard ◽  
Robert Davis Moore ◽  
Gabriel Lavoie ◽  
Dave Ellemberg
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Switch Costs ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
The Impact

The impact of concussions on an individual's cognitive functioning has become a growing health concern over the past several years; however, the search for sensitive tests persists. The task-switching paradigm is known to be sensitive to various medical conditions, including concussion. Accordingly, we developed 2 versions of the color-shape switch task. Three different costs are computed from the raw scores: global switch cost, which is thought to be a measure of global cognitive control; local switch cost, which is believed to be a measure of cognitive flexibility; and working memory cost. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychometric characteristics of these costs. An ANOVA revealed a main effect of sex on local latency switch cost, with females exhibiting longer latencies than males, p = 0.05. No main effect of sex was observed on any other switch costs. Moreover, no main effect of experimenter or version of the task was observed. Local switch cost was significantly correlated with trails 4 and 5 of the Comprehensive Trail Making Test (rs > 0.21, ps < 0.04). No other significant correlation between costs and established neuropsychological tests was observed, indicating low convergent validity. The intraclass correlation coefficient estimates ranged from 0.23 to 0.77, suggesting low-to-moderate 1-week test-retest reliability. Results indicated a low switch costs; convergent validity. Moreover, results show that the traditionally computed switch costs are less reliable than the primary outcomes (i.e., reaction time and accuracy). Researchers and clinicians should rely on primary variables from the task-switching paradigm rather than computing the traditional switch costs to increase the psychometric properties of the tasks which is critical to advances in theoretical models of executive functions and evaluations of clinical populations.

scholarly journals The effect of performing versus preparing a task on the subsequent switch cost

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Swainson ◽  
Laura Prosser ◽  
Kostadin Karavasilev ◽  
Aleksandra Romanczuk
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Limited Extent ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Switch Costs ◽  
Task Preparation ◽  
Switching Models ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Behaviour occurs not as isolated incidents, but within an ongoing sequence of events. The task-switching paradigm provides a useful way to investigate the impact of different events upon subsequent performance. An implication of two-stage task-switching models is that preparing a task without performing it might affect task readiness only to a limited extent. However, recent research has surprisingly shown larger switch costs following preparation (“cue-only” trials) than following performance (“completed” trials). We set out to conduct a rigorous comparison of the size of switch costs following cue-only versus completed trials. In Experiments 1 and 2, we controlled the timing between critical trial events. This had the effect of roughly equating, but not reversing, the relative size of switch costs. In Experiment 3, we restructured the paradigm to equate the predictability of cue and target events. Switch costs following cue-only trials were now smaller than those following completed trials. These studies confirm that task preparation alone is sufficient to drive subsequent switch costs. They also indicate that task performance might increase the size of these costs, consistent with two-stage task-switching models. Switch costs appear to be affected by both the timing and predictability of trial events.

scholarly journals Effects of stimulus features and instruction on response coding, selection, and inhibition: Evidence from repetition effects under task switching

2008 ◽  
Vol 61 (10) ◽  
pp. 1573-1600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel D. Druey ◽  
Ronald Hübner
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Response Selection ◽  
Middle Finger ◽  
Task Switch ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Repetition Effects ◽  
Stimulus Response ◽  
Stimulus Features ◽  
Feature Overlap ◽  
Response Coding

The coding of stimuli and responses is crucial for human behaviour. Here, we focused primarily on the response codes (or response categories). As a method, we applied a combined dual-task and task-switch paradigm with a fixed task-to-hand mapping. Usually, negative effects (i.e., costs) are observed for response category repetitions under task switching. However, in several previous studies it has been proposed that such repetition effects do not occur, if the stimulus categories (e.g., “odd” if digits have to be classified according to their parity feature) are unequivocally mapped to specific responses. Our aim was to test this hypothesis. In the present experiments, we were able to distinguish between three different types of possible response codes. The results show that the participants generally code their responses according to abstract response features (left/right, or index/middle finger). Moreover, the spatial codes were preferred over the finger-type codes even if the instructions stressed the latter. This preference, though, seemed to result from a stimulus–response feature overlap, so that the spatial response categories were primed by the respective stimulus features. If there was no such overlap, the instructions determined which type of response code was involved in response selection and inhibition.

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