title: Age-related differences in task switching and task preparation: Exploring the role of task-set competition.
abstract: The present study focused on the role of task preparation in age-related task-switching deficits. In Experiment 1, we assessed the preparatory reduction of alternation costs (i.e., alternating-task conditions vs. single-task conditions) in twenty-two older adults (65-78years) and 22 young adults (20-28years) by varying the response-stimulus interval (RSI) in a task-switching paradigm with a predictable task sequence and univalent stimuli. In Experiment 2, in which new groups of 22 older adults (65-78years) and 22 young adults (18-24years) took part, we replicated Experiment 1 with bivalent stimuli, which were associated with both tasks and thus increased task-set competition. Whereas in Experiment 1, in which we used univalent stimuli, there were no age-related differences in the preparatory reduction of alternation costs, the data showed impaired task preparation in old age with bivalent stimuli in Experiment 2. These data support the notion that task-preparation deficits in old age occur particularly in situations of increased task-set competition.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: patricia.hirsch@psych.rwth-aachen.de.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwarzkopp
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Declerck
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Mechanics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Iring
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age-related task-switching deficits; Task preparation; Task-set competition