Evidence for instructions-based updating of task-set representations: the informed fadeout effect
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Updated: Mar 7, 2026

The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task
Published on: May 3, 2018
Maayan Pereg1, Nachshon Meiran2
1Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel. maayanru@post.bgu.ac.il.
Abstract:
The cognitive system can be updated rapidly and efficiently to maximize performance in cognitive tasks. This paper used a task-switching task to explore updating at the level of the plausible task-sets held for future performance. Previous research suggested a "fadeout effect", performance improvement when moving from task-switching context to single-task context, yet this effect could reflect passive learning rather than intentional control. In a novel "informed fadeout paradigm", one of two tasks was canceled for a certain number of trials and participants were informed or uninformed regarding task cancelation. The "informed fadeout effect" indicates better performance in the informed than uninformed fadeout after one informed trial had been executed. However, the results regarding the first trial were inconclusive. Possible underlying mechanisms are discussed.
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