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 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 On the Role of Dissipating Inhibition in Task Switching

2013 ◽  
Vol 221 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Vandierendonck
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Alternative View ◽  
Task Set ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Over Time

The n-2 repetition cost has been explained by persisting inhibition of a previously valid task set which dissipates over time. This account has two implications, namely that the switch cost decreases with the number of tasks involved in switching and that the cost should also be observed in switching between two tasks. Neither of these implications is supported by empirical evidence. An alternative view is briefly discussed.

scholarly journals Multiple sclerosis: Executive dysfunction, task switching and the role of attention

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 205521731877178 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Clough ◽  
P Foletta ◽  
AN Frohman ◽  
D Sears ◽  
A Ternes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Simple Task ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Switch Benefit

Background It has been suggested that switching ability might not be affected in multiple sclerosis (MS) as previously thought; however, whether this is true under more ‘real-world’ conditions when asymmetry in task difficulty is present has not been ascertained. Objective The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of task difficulty asymmetry on task switching ability in MS. Method An ocular motor (OM) paradigm that interleaves the simple task of looking towards a target (prosaccade, PS) with the cognitively more difficult task of looking away from a target (antisaccade, PS) was used. Two switching conditions: (1) PS switch cost, switching to a simple task from a difficult task (PS switch), relative to performing two simple tasks concurrently (PS repeat); (2) AS switch cost, switching to a difficult task from a simple task (AS switch) relative to performing two difficult tasks concurrently (AS repeat). Forty-five relapsing–remitting MS patients and 30 control individuals were compared. Results Controls and patients produced a similar magnitude PS switch cost, suggesting that task difficulty asymmetry does not detrimentally impact MS patients when transitioning from a more difficult task to a simpler task. However, MS patients alone found switching from the simpler PS trial to the more difficult AS trial easier (shorter latency and reduced error) than performing two AS trials consecutively (AS switch benefit). Further, MS patients performed significantly more errors than controls when required to repeat the same trial consecutively. Conclusion MS patients appear to find the maintenance of task-relevant processes difficult not switching per se, with deficits exacerbated under increased attentional demands.

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.

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.

A Review of the Role of Cue Processing in Task Switching

2013 ◽  
Vol 221 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Jost ◽  
Wouter De Baene ◽  
Iring Koch ◽  
Marcel Brass
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Switch ◽  
Task Set ◽  
Switch Costs ◽  
Set Switching ◽  
Controversial Topic ◽  
Cue Encoding ◽  
Cue Processing

The role of cue processing has become a controversial topic in research on cognitive control using task-switching procedures. Some authors suggested a priming account to explain switch costs as a form of encoding benefit when the cue from the previous trial is repeated and hence challenged theories that attribute task-switch costs to task-set (re)configuration. A rich body of empirical evidence has evolved that indeed shows that cue-encoding repetition priming is an important component in task switching. However, these studies also demonstrate that there are usually substantial “true” task-switch costs. Here, we review this behavioral, electrophysiological, and brain imaging evidence. Moreover, we describe alternative approaches to the explicit task-cuing procedure, such as the usage of transition cues or the task-span procedure. In addition, we address issues related to the type of cue, such as cue transparency. We also discuss methodological and theoretical implications and argue that the explicit task-cuing procedure is suitable to address issues of cognitive control and task-set switching.

Mechanisms and Effects of Task-Set Selection in Task Switching

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Hubner ◽  
Lisa Tobel
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Set

Task Confusions in Task Switching: Implications for the Idea of a Task Set

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Steinhauser ◽  
Ronald Hubner
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Set

Exploring the Task Set Decay Hypothesis in Task Switching

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himeh Horoufchin ◽  
Iring Koch ◽  
Andrea M. Philipp
Keyword(s):  
Task Switching ◽  
Task Set
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