Dissociating the components of switch cost using two-to-two cue–task mapping.

Abstract

In the task switch paradigm, a switch of task is typically accompanied by a change in task cue. It has been proposed that the performance deficit usually observed when switching tasks is actually the result of changing cues. To test this possibility, we used a 2:2 cue-task mapping in which each cue indicated 2 different tasks. With advance presentation of a cue, the cost associated with changing cues disappeared, though a substantial task switch cost remained. Without advance cues, the relative contributions of task switch cost and cue change cost differed by transition frequencies. The results suggest that task execution contributes to switch cost independent of cue changes.