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Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia

One influential explanation for the costs incurred when switching between tasks is that they reflect interference arising from completing the previous task—known as task-set inertia. We report a novel approach for assessing task-set inertia in a memory experiment using event-related potentials (ERPs...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Evans, Lisa H., Herron, Jane E., Wilding, Edward L.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4361352/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25626443
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797614561799
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author Evans, Lisa H.
Herron, Jane E.
Wilding, Edward L.
author_facet Evans, Lisa H.
Herron, Jane E.
Wilding, Edward L.
author_sort Evans, Lisa H.
collection PubMed
description One influential explanation for the costs incurred when switching between tasks is that they reflect interference arising from completing the previous task—known as task-set inertia. We report a novel approach for assessing task-set inertia in a memory experiment using event-related potentials (ERPs). After a study phase, participants completed a test block in which they switched between a memory task (retrieving information from the study phase) and a perceptual task. These tasks alternated every two trials. An ERP index of the retrieval of study information was evident in the memory task. It was also present on the first trial of the perceptual task but was markedly attenuated on the second. Moreover, this task-irrelevant ERP activity was positively correlated with a behavioral cost associated with switching between tasks. This real-time measure of neural activity thus provides direct evidence of task-set inertia, its duration, and the functional role it plays in switch costs.
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spelling pubmed-43613522015-04-10 Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia Evans, Lisa H. Herron, Jane E. Wilding, Edward L. Psychol Sci Research Articles One influential explanation for the costs incurred when switching between tasks is that they reflect interference arising from completing the previous task—known as task-set inertia. We report a novel approach for assessing task-set inertia in a memory experiment using event-related potentials (ERPs). After a study phase, participants completed a test block in which they switched between a memory task (retrieving information from the study phase) and a perceptual task. These tasks alternated every two trials. An ERP index of the retrieval of study information was evident in the memory task. It was also present on the first trial of the perceptual task but was markedly attenuated on the second. Moreover, this task-irrelevant ERP activity was positively correlated with a behavioral cost associated with switching between tasks. This real-time measure of neural activity thus provides direct evidence of task-set inertia, its duration, and the functional role it plays in switch costs. SAGE Publications 2015-03 /pmc/articles/PMC4361352/ /pubmed/25626443 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797614561799 Text en © The Author(s) 2015 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm).
spellingShingle Research Articles
Evans, Lisa H.
Herron, Jane E.
Wilding, Edward L.
Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia
title Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia
title_full Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia
title_fullStr Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia
title_full_unstemmed Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia
title_short Direct Real-Time Neural Evidence for Task-Set Inertia
title_sort direct real-time neural evidence for task-set inertia
topic Research Articles
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4361352/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25626443
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797614561799
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