Electrophysiological correlates of anticipatory task-switching processes

• Published in: Psychophysiology Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 540 - 554
• Main Authors: Nicholson, Rebecca, Karayanidis, Frini, Poboka, Dane, Heathcote, Andrew, Michie, Patricia T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing 01.09.2005; Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Attention - physiology; Attentional control; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Cognition & reasoning; Contingent Negative Variation - physiology; Control processes; Electroencephalography; Electrophysiology; ERP; Female; Functional Laterality - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalization, Stimulus - physiology; Humans; Male; Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology; Physiological psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Response time; Set (Psychology); Task-switching; Human; Task-switching; ERP; Attentional control; Attention; Electrophysiology; Anticipation; Cognition; Task switching; Reaction time; Control processes; Event evoked potential; Cognitive control
• ISSN: 0048-5772; 1540-5958; 1469-8986
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2005.00350.x

Recent studies show a differential switch‐related positivity emerging before a switch trial and reflecting anticipatory task‐set reconfiguration processes. In this study, the switch‐related positivity was examined in a cued task‐switching paradigm. Cue‐stimulus and response‐stimulus intervals were independently manipulated to dissociate between the effects of anticipatory preparation and passive dissipation of task‐set interference. Reaction time switch cost declined with increasing cue‐stimulus and response‐stimulus intervals, suggesting a contribution from both active preparation and passive interference processes. In cue‐related difference waveforms, a switch positivity peaked around 350–400 ms and is interpreted as reflecting differential activation of task‐set reconfiguration. In stimulus‐related difference waveforms, a switch‐related negativity is believed to indicate the role of S‐R priming and response interference in task‐switching.