Abstract
There is abundant evidence that there is a performance cost associated with switching
between tasks. This “switch cost” has been postulated to be driven by task-performance on
the preceding trial, but recent research challenges any necessary role of previous task performance
in driving the cost. Across three experiments, we investigated whether it is
difficult to switch from a task that was prepared but never performed. We replicated the
finding of a switch cost following cue-only trials (involving no task-performance) whilst
controlling for a potential cue-switching confound. This cost was larger than that following
completed trials when preparation interval was short (300 msec) and it reduced significantly
with a longer preparation interval (1000 msec) on the current trial. We also found that
preparing only to attend to a particular visual dimension (colour or shape) was sufficient to
drive a significant subsequent switch cost which appeared to be residual in nature; we
speculate that this cost may reflect the persistence of unfulfilled task-intentions and/or a
strategic slowing when consecutive intentions conflict.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1453-1470 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 7 Jun 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to thank Fiona Carr, Carmen Horne, and
Brigitta Toth for assistance with data collection.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding information
The authors would like to thank the School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, for contributing funding for participant
payments.
Keywords
- task-switching
- subsequent switch cost
- preparation
- stimulus-response mappings
