A new account of the effect of probability on task switching: ERP evidence following the manipulation of switch probability, cue informativeness and predictability

作者：Nessler Doreen^*; Friedman David; Johnson Ray Jr

来源：Biological Psychology, 2012, 91(2): 245-262.

DOI：10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.07.005

• Task switching
• Switch probability
• Switch predictability
• Task-set updating
• Task-set reconfiguration
• Cue-locked ERP
• Response-locked ERP

This task-switching ERP study of 16 young participants investigated whether increased RT slowing on stay trials and faster RTs on switch trials for frequent than infrequent switching are explained by an activation or preparation account. The activation account proposes that task sets are maintained at a higher baseline activation level for frequent switching, necessitating increased task-set updating, as reflected by a larger and/or longer lasting early parietal positivity. The preparation account assumes advance (pre-cue) switch preparation (i.e., task-set reconfiguration), preceding stay and switch trials for frequent switching, as reflected by pre-cue and post-cue late parietal positivities. By and large, the data support the activation account. However, we also found increased, pre-cue task-set updating on frequent stay trials and pre-cue, task-set reconfiguration prior to predictable, frequent switches. These results lead us to propose an extended activation account to explain the effects of switch probability on the executive processes underlying task-switching behavior.

• 出版日期2012-10