The HED Task Catalog is under development. IDs are not stable until formal release. Comments are welcome at github.com/hed-standard/hed-task/issues.

Task Switching Task

HED task ID: hedtsk_task_switching

Family: Rule use, planning and reasoning tasks

Also known as: Set Shifting, Alternating Runs

Alternation between two or more simple tasks on cue; switch-cost RT and errors index task-set reconfiguration.

Description

Task Switching paradigms measure cognitive flexibility by requiring participants to alternate between two or more classification tasks. Participants view stimuli (e.g., bivalent alphanumeric characters like “G3”) and perform different classifications depending on a task cue (letter: vowel/consonant; digit: odd/even). Tasks alternate in predictable sequences (e.g., AABB) or are cued on each trial. The primary measures are switch costs (increased RT and errors when switching tasks vs. repeating the same task) and mixing costs (increased RT in mixed-task blocks vs. single-task blocks). Switch costs reflect the time for task-set reconfiguration.

Inclusion test

An experiment is an instance of this task when its procedure matches, it manipulates at least one of the listed variables, and it records at least one of the listed measures.

Procedure

Participants alternate between two (or more) simple tasks on the same stimuli, cued by an explicit cue or a predictable alternation schedule.

Manipulation

Switch vs. repeat trials; cue-stimulus interval (preparation time); task difficulty; number of tasks; cue transparency.

Measurement

Switch cost (switch − repeat RT and accuracy); mixing cost (mixed block − pure block); preparation effect (switch cost reduction with longer CSI).

Variations

Named versions that change what the participant experiences or does. The identifier of a variation is hedvar_<task>__<variation>.

Variation

Description

Justification

Cued Task-Switching

hedvar_task_switching__cued_task_switching

Explicit cue signals task on each trial; separates cue-processing from task-reconfiguration.

Canonical cue specifies task each trial

Alternating Runs (AABB)

hedvar_task_switching__alternating_runs_aabb

Predictable task sequences without explicit cues; switch costs reflect preparation failures.

Predictable alternation without explicit cue; different task structure

Voluntary Task Switching

hedvar_task_switching__voluntary_task_switching

Participants freely choose which task to perform; reveals internal control biases.

Participant chooses task; measures voluntary switching rates

Mixing Cost Paradigm

hedvar_task_switching__mixing_cost_paradigm

Comparing single-task blocks to mixed-task blocks; indexes sustained task-set maintenance.

Compares mixed-block to pure-block performance; different block structure

Cue-Stimulus Interval (CSI) Manipulation

hedvar_task_switching__cue_stimulus_interval_csi_manipulation

Varying preparation time between cue and target; preparation reduces switch costs.

Varies preparation time; tests proactive preparation

Response-Stimulus Interval (RSI) Manipulation

hedvar_task_switching__response_stimulus_interval_rsi_manipulation

Varying intertrial interval; affects passive dissipation of prior task set.

Varies post-response interval; tests backward inhibition decay

Task Switching with N>2 Tasks

hedvar_task_switching__task_switching_with_n_2_tasks

Three or more tasks; reveals backward inhibition and n-2 repetition costs.

Three or more tasks; different reconfiguration demands

Univalent vs. Bivalent Stimuli

hedvar_task_switching__univalent_vs_bivalent_stimuli

Stimuli affording response under one task only vs. both tasks.

Stimuli compatible with one vs. both tasks; different interference structure

Predictable vs. Random Task Sequences

hedvar_task_switching__predictable_vs_random_task_sequences

Examining preparation and anticipation effects.

Known vs. unknown switch sequence; tests preparation strategies

Task Switching with Conflict

hedvar_task_switching__task_switching_with_conflict

Combining task switching with Stroop/flanker-type conflict.

Bivalent stimuli with competing responses; combined switching and conflict

Cognitive processes

This task is designed to engage the following processes:

Key references

  • Rogers, R. D., & Monsell, S. (1995). Costs of a predictable switch between simple cognitive tasks. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 124(2), 207-231. (DOI)

  • Monsell, S. (2003). Task switching. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 7(3), 134-140. (DOI, PubMed)

  • Braver, T. S., Reynolds, J. R., & Donaldson, D. I. (2003). Neural mechanisms of transient and sustained cognitive control during task switching. Neuron, 39(4), 713-726. (DOI, PubMed)

Further references

  • Kiesel, A., Steinhauser, M., Wendt, M., Falkenstein, M., Jost, K., Philipp, A. M., & Koch, I. (2010). Control and interference in task switching—A review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(5), 849–874. (DOI, PubMed)

  • Vandierendonck, A., Liefooghe, B., & Verbruggen, F. (2010). Task switching: Interplay of reconfiguration and interference control. Psychological Bulletin, 136(4), 601–626. (DOI, PubMed)

  • Grange, J. A., & Houghton, G. (2014). Models of cognitive control in task switching. In Task Switching and Cognitive Control (pp. 160–199). Oxford University Press. (DOI)

  • Braem, S., & Egner, T. (2018). Getting a grip on cognitive flexibility. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(6), 470–476. (DOI, PubMed)