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Disentangling the Respective Contribution of Task Selection and Task Execution to Self-Directed Cognitive Control

Aurélien Frick^1,2, Maria A Brandimonte², Nicolas Chevalier¹

¹University of Edinburgh.

Child Development

|December 22, 2020

Summary

Cognitive control in children involves separable task selection and task execution processes. Task selection is more demanding than task execution, and both are crucial for self-directed task performance.

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Area of Science:

Developmental psychology
Cognitive neuroscience

Background:

Cognitive control is vital for development, encompassing task selection and execution.
The separability and distinct contributions of these processes to task switching remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dissociability of task selection and task execution in children.
To determine how each process contributes to task switching performance and self-directed control.

Main Methods:

Employed the double registration procedure to differentiate task selection and execution in 180 children (4-5, 7-8, 10-11 years old).
Analyzed mixing and switch costs associated with each process.

Main Results:

Task selection incurred significant mixing and switch costs, particularly in younger children.
Task execution primarily showed switch costs across all age groups.
Both processes demonstrated variability based on task self-directedness demands.

Conclusions:

Task selection and task execution are distinct cognitive processes with differential performance costs.
Despite their dissociation, both task selection and execution are essential for developing self-directed control in children.