Response selection and response execution in task switching: evidence from a go-signal paradigm

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Task switching involves cognitive flexibility.
• Interference from previous trials impacts current performance.
• Response-related processes are crucial in task switching.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of response selection and preparation in mitigating task-switching costs.
• To differentiate the contributions of response selection versus execution to interference effects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a go/no-go signal delay (GSD) paradigm with short (100 ms) and long (1,500 ms) delays.
• Measured task-shift costs and n-2 repetition costs (backward inhibition).
• Compared costs after go trials (response execution) versus no-go trials (response selection only).

Main Results:

• A long GSD significantly reduced task-shift costs and n-2 repetition costs.
• Interference effects were smaller after no-go trials compared to go trials, especially with a long GSD.
• Response selection and execution were both implicated in interference effects.

Conclusions:

• The opportunity to select and prepare responses during a long GSD resolves interference.
• Interference effects in task switching arise from both response selection and response execution.
• Dissociable roles of response selection and execution in task switching interference were demonstrated.