Abstract
Task-switching studies show no behavioral benefit of partially informative cues. However, ERP evidence of an early cue-locked positivity elicited by both fully and partially informative cues suggests that both cues trigger an anticipatory component of task set reconfiguration (Nicholson, Karayanidis, Davies, & Michie, 2006). We examined this apparent discrepancy using a cued-trials task-switching paradigm with three tasks. The ERP finding of an early cue-locked positivity was replicated for both switch-to cues, which validly predicted an upcoming switch trial and specified the new task set, and switch-away cues, which validly predicted an upcoming switch trial but not the new task set. This component was not elicited by a noninformative cue that did not specify whether the task would switch or repeat. Switch-away cues resulted in more accurate but not faster responding than did noninformative cues. Modeling of decision processes confirmed a speed-accuracy trade-off between these conditions and a preparation benefit for both switch-to and switch-away cues. These results indicate that both fully and partially informative cues elicit an early anticipatory component of task set reconfiguration that is reflected in the early cue-locked positivity. We argue that the pattern of results is most consistent with a task set inhibition account of this early anticipatory component of task set reconfiguration.
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This work was supported by funding from the University of Newcastle Research Grants Committee and was approved by the University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee. Elise Mansfield was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and a University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding RHD Candidate.
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Karayanidis, F., Mansfield, E.L., Galloway, K.L. et al. Anticipatory reconfiguration elicited by fully and partially informative cues that validly predict a switch in task. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience 9, 202–215 (2009). https://doi.org/10.3758/CABN.9.2.202
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/CABN.9.2.202