Electrophysiological correlates of anticipatory and poststimulus components of task switching

Psychophysiology. 2003 May;40(3):329-48. doi: 10.1111/1469-8986.00037.

Abstract

Task-switching paradigms can shed light on cognitive and neural processes underlying attentional control mechanisms. An alternating runs task-switching paradigm (R. D. Rogers & S. Monsell, 1995) is used to identify ERP components associated with anticipatory and poststimulus components of task-switching processes. Subjects alternated between two tasks in a predictable series (AABB). Reaction time (RT) switch cost reduced with increasing response-stimulus (R-S) interval and a residual switch cost remained at the longest R-S interval. A switch-related positivity (D-Pos) developed in the R-S interval. D-Pos was time-locked to response onset, peaked around 400 ms post-response onset, and was unaffected by task-set interference. A switch-related negativity (D-Neg) emerged after stimulus onset. D-Neg peaked earlier with increasing R-S interval and its amplitude and latency were affected by task-set interference. D-Pos and D-Neg were interpreted within current models of task-switching.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Electromyography
  • Electrooculography
  • Electrophysiology
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology