Reconfiguration and interference in voluntary task switching

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1042.2018.01624

Abstract

Abstract:

Task switching is often used for studying executive functions. Task switching is usually associated with switch costs: longer reaction times and higher error rates on task-switch trials compared to task-repeat trials. Switch costs are attributed to task-set reconfiguration (reconfiguration view), or interference between different tasks (interference view). Compared with task cuing paradigm, the voluntary task switching paradigm is considered to be more ecologically valid. With this new paradigm, researchers could achieve not only traditional indicators like switch costs, but also new measures such as proportions of task selection and task switching rates. Studies of voluntary task switching are in favor of reconfiguration view. However, some recent reports found that interference may also play a role in voluntary task switching. In the future, modifications of the experimental paradigm should be made for a possible theoretical integration.

Key words: executive function, task switching, reconfiguration, interference, voluntary task switching paradigm

CLC Number:

B842

JIANG Hao. Reconfiguration and interference in voluntary task switching[J]. Advances in Psychological Science, 2018, 26(9): 1624-1631.

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