Transformation of task components into an integrated representation during task switching.
We combined task switching with a change paradigm to trace the transformation of the information conveyed by task cues into a readiness to perform the cued task. The tasks were composed of two components that allowed us to determine switch costs as a function of the number of changed task components. With a short stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) of 200ms, switch costs grew monotonically as a function of the number of changed components. With a SOA of 400ms, the switch-cost profile exhibited a nonmonotonic characteristic that was previously observed only with switches from an already performed task. Our observations suggest that task preparation can be considered as a process by which an unstructured representation of task components is gradually transformed into an integrated task representation that comprises asymmetrical associations between the task components.
Kleinsorge
Thomas
T
Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie an der Universität Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, D-44139 Dortmund, Germany. kliensorge@ifado.de
Gajewski
Patrick D
PD
D000328:Adult; D001244:Association; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012718:Set, Psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014163:Transfer, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology