Proactive and reactive control differ between task switching and response rule switching: Event-related potential
Yun Chen1, Bihua Cao1, Liufang Xie2
1School of Psychology, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China.
Neuropsychologia
|May 21, 2022
Summary
Cognitive control differs between task-switching and response-rule switching, with RR-switches showing greater costs. Neural activity reveals distinct proactive and reactive control mechanisms for each switch type.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Experimental Psychology
Background:
- Distinguishing between task-switching (T-switch) and response-rule switching (RR-switch) is crucial for understanding cognitive control.
- Previous research has identified these distinctions, but the neural underpinnings of proactive and reactive control in each remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differences in neural correlates of proactive and reactive control between T-switch and RR-switch.
- To compare behavioral costs associated with T-switch and RR-switch.
Main Methods:
- A modified cue-target task was employed to elicit T-switch and RR-switch conditions.
- Behavioral data (switch costs) and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded.
Main Results:
- Behaviorally, RR-switch incurred greater switch costs than T-switch.
- ERPs showed enhanced cue-related late positive component (LPC) in RR-switch, indicating greater proactive control.
- Target-related P3 amplitude attenuation in RR-switch suggested increased reactive control.
Conclusions:
- Both T-switch and RR-switch recruit similar proactive and reactive control mechanisms.
- Cognitive control efforts differ significantly between T-switch and RR-switch, potentially due to distinct sub-processes.
