title: Set-shifting as a component process of goal-directed problem-solving.
abstract: In two experiments, we compared secondary task interference on Tower of London performance resulting from three different secondary tasks. The secondary tasks were designed to tap three different executive functions, namely set-shifting, memory monitoring and updating, and response inhibition. Previous work using individual differences methodology suggests that, all other things being equal, the response inhibition or memory tasks should result in the greatest interference. However, this was not found to be the case. Rather, in both experiments the set-shifting task resulted in significantly more interference on Tower of London performance than either of the other secondary tasks. Subsequent analyses suggest that the degree of interference could not be attributed to differences in secondary task difficulty. Results are interpreted in the light of related work which suggests that solving problems with non-transparent goal/subgoal structure requires flexible shifting between subgoals-a process that is held to be impaired by concurrent performance of a set-shifting task.
authors: Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK. R.Cooper@bbk.ac.uk.
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Cooper
authors: Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
authors: Verity
authors: V
authors: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012718:Set, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult