title: Task-switching preparation across semantic and spatial domains: An event-related potential study.
abstract: Previous event-related potential (ERP) studies have identified the specific electrophysiological markers of advance preparation in cued task-switching paradigms. However, it is not yet completely clear whether there is a single task-independent preparatory mechanism for task-switching or whether preparation for a switch can be selectively influenced by the domain of the task to be performed. To address this question, we employed a cued-task switching paradigm requiring participants to repeat or to switch between a semantic and a spatial task. The behavioural results showed a significant switch cost for both domains. The ERP findings, however, revealed that switch and repeat trials for semantic and spatial domains differed in the amplitude modulation of an early P2 and a sustained negativity both expressed over fronto-central scalp regions. Further differences between the two domains also emerged over posterior-parietal electrodes. This pattern of data thus shows that advance preparation in task-switching can be selectively modulated by the domain of the task to be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: mariagrazia.capizzi@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: kristoffer.feher@puk.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fehér
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, Università di Trieste, Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.penolazzi@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Penolazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy; Centro di Neuroscienze Cognitive, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: antonino.vallesi@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallesi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012660:Semantics; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Advance preparation; ERPs; Semantic processing; Spatial processing; Task-set