Abstract
Task performance improves when the required tasks are predicted by the preceding time intervals, suggesting that participants form time-based task expectancies. In the present study, we pursued the question whether temporal predictability of tasks can also influence task choice. For this purpose, we conducted three experiments using a hybrid task-switching paradigm (with two tasks) combining forced-choice and free-choice trials. Each trial was preceded by either a short (500 ms) or a long (1500 ms) foreperiod. In forced-choice trials, the instructed task was predicted by the length of the foreperiod (Exp. 1A and 1B: 100% foreperiod-task contingencies; Exp. 2: 80% foreperiod-task contingencies). In the remaining trials, participants were free to choose which task to perform. In all three experiments, we found that participants’ task choice was influenced by the foreperiod-task contingencies implemented in forced-choice trials. Specifically, participants were overall biased to choose tasks compatible with these contingencies; these compatible choice rates were larger for the short compared to the long foreperiod. Our findings suggest that learned time-based task expectancies influence subjects’ voluntary task choice and that an initially present task bias toward the “short” task is not always overcome at the long foreperiod. We discuss potential underlying mechanisms against the background of voluntary task switching and interval timing.
Highlights
IntroductionThe timing of events is an important predictor for action planning and action selection (cf., Kolling & O’Reilly, 2018; Petter, Gershman, & Meck, 2018): Imagine meeting with a friend
The timing of events is an important predictor for action planning and action selection: Imagine meeting with a friend
Our main goal was to investigate whether temporal predictability influences task-choice behavior, we investigated whether time-based task expectancies on forced-choice trials will influence task performance on freechoice trials in a similar manner
Summary
The timing of events is an important predictor for action planning and action selection (cf., Kolling & O’Reilly, 2018; Petter, Gershman, & Meck, 2018): Imagine meeting with a friend. While you are waiting at your arranged meeting place, time goes by. You will probably be prepared for your friend to be on time; your planned course of action is to interact with that person. Depending on the time passing by, different events and different actions will become more likely. Your readiness for doing certain tasks should slowly shift from one action to the as time goes by. There are many cases in which the relationship between passing time and expected events has high informative value for task
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