Similar Control Processes Research Articles

The many facets of inhibitory control and their role in syntactic selection

AbstractThere is accumulating evidence that distinct forms of domain-general inhibition underlie the selection of lexical candidates from among co-activated representations in single-word production. It is less clear whether similar control processes are engaged in the resolution of syntactic conflict in sentence production. This study assessed the relative contribution of three types of inhibitory control operating at different stages of information processing to syntactic interference resolution in an active-passive voice production task. Inhibition of response execution (the anti-saccade effect) and resolution of representational conflict (the flanker effect) were related to the occurrence of repairs and sentence onset latencies in passive voice trials. The results suggest not only that general-purpose mechanisms may be in place that resolve conflict regardless of whether it stems from syntactic or non-syntactic (non-verbal) representations, but also that they operate at dissociable processing stages.

Is it easier to use one language variety at a time, or mix them? An investigation of voluntary language switching with bidialectals.

Previous language production research with bidialectals has provided evidence for similar language control processes as during bilingual language production. In the current study, we aim to further investigate this claim by examining bidialectals with a voluntary language switching paradigm. Research with bilinguals performing the voluntary language switching paradigm has consistently shown two effects. First, the cost of switching languages, relative to staying in the same language, is similar across the two languages. The second effect is more uniquely connected to voluntary language switching, namely a benefit when performing in mixed language blocks relative to single language blocks, which has been connected to proactive language control. If a similar pattern could be observed with bidialectals in a voluntary language switching paradigm, then this would provide additional evidence in favor of similar control processes underlying bidialectal and bilingual language production.

The congruency sequence effect in a modified prime-probe task indexes response-general control.

Adapting flexibly to recent events is essential in everyday life. A robust measure of such adaptive behavior is the congruency sequence effect (CSE) in the prime-probe task, which refers to a smaller congruency effect after incongruent trials than after congruent trials. Prior findings indicate that the CSE in the prime-probe task reflects control processes that modulate response activation after the prime onsets but before the probe appears. They also suggest that similar control processes operate even in a modified prime-probe task wherein the initial prime is a relevant target, rather than merely a distractor. Because adaptive behavior frequently occurs in the absence of irrelevant stimuli, the present study investigates the nature of the control processes that operate in this modified prime-probe task. Specifically, it investigates whether these control processes modulate only the response cued by the prime (response-specific control) or also other responses (response-general control). To make this distinction, we employed a novel variant of the modified prime-probe task wherein primes and probes are mapped to different responses (i.e., effectors), such that only response-general control processes can engender a CSE. Critically, we observed a robust CSE in each of 2 experiments. This outcome supports the response-general control hypothesis. More broadly, it suggests that the control processes underlying the CSE overlap with general mechanisms for adapting to sequential dependencies in the environment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Are similar control processes implemented during single and dual language production? Evidence from switching between speech registers and languages

AbstractTo investigate whether similar control processes are used during single and dual language production, we compared register switching (formal and informal speech in the same language) vs. language switching (French and English). The results across two experiments showed a positive correlation of overall register- and language-switch costs and similar formal French switch costs across the two switching tasks. However, whereas increasing the cue-to-stimulus interval resulted in a reduction of language-switch costs, register-switch costs were unaffected by the interval manipulation. This difference in switch-cost pattern indicates that control processes are not entirely identical during single and dual language production.

Self-control depletion is more than motivational switch from work to fun: the indispensable role of cognitive adaptation.

It has been consistently demonstrated that people tend to perform more poorly on subsequent self-control tasks after completing an initial task that requires them to exert self-control (Hagger et al., 2010; Hagger and Chatzisarantis, 2014). The predominant explanation of such depletion effect claims that self-control taxes a limited resource that becomes drained with use (Muraven and Baumeister, 2000). Inzlicht and colleagues recently challenged the resource model by questioning the necessity and sufficiency of the resource metaphor for explaining self-control (Inzlicht et al., 2014). Instead, they presented a non-resource based process model. According to this model, self-control failure due to initial exertion is less about resource depletion but more about the motivated switching of task priorities from “have-to” and labor goals to “want-to” and leisure goals. We applaud such advance as the new account not only is evolutionarily and biologically more plausible but also can accommodate recent findings that are incompatible with the resource model (Inzlicht and Schmeichel, 2012; Inzlicht et al., 2014). However, we argue that the motivation-shift mechanism emphasized by the process model alone is not sufficient for explaining self-control depletion. A parallel cognitive adaptation mechanism must also be taken into account. From a cognitive control perspective, the depletion effect is nothing mysterious but can be considered as a phenomenon similar to “switch costs” (Kiesel et al., 2010). The cognitive system is evolved to be able to actively adapt to given demands and buffer against situational changes. However, the inevitable cost is a reduced flexibility to promptly switch to a new demand. In a situation requiring consecutive exertion of effort, the control processes being recruited to adapt to the first self-control task would linger and hinder adaptation to the subsequent self-control task that requires different control processes (Botvinick et al., 2001; Dewitte et al., 2009). For example, if a dieting person is asked to control intake of palatable but unhealthy food after having performed emotion regulation, the recruitment of control processes for resisting temptation would be impeded as the control system is still geared toward regulating emotions. The first implication of this reconceptualization is that engaging in a first self-control task could facilitate, rather than impair, self-control success in the second task when these two tasks require similar control processes because the control processes needed in the second task are already activated, as both experimental studies (Dewitte et al., 2009) and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies (O'Connell et al., 2008) have attested. The second implication is that even if the control processes on which the two consecutive tasks rely are different, allowing respondents sufficient time to adapt to the task demands would cancel the depletion effect. Consistent with this implication, recent research showed that adapting to either the first task (Dang et al., 2013) or the second task (Barutchu et al., 2013) removed the depletion effect without rest or additional motivation. Further, there was also evidence showing a negative correlation between the adaptation level and the depletion effect even when the time for adaptation was limited, such that the more respondents adapted to the first task, the less errors they made on the second task (Dang et al., 2013). The third implication suggests factors that can reduce switch costs would help to overcome self-control depletion. It has been demonstrated that positive affect, which could enhance flexibility of switching to new cognitive sets by directing attention to novel information (Dreisbach and Goschke, 2004), successfully neutralized the depletion effect (Wenzel et al., 2013). In the meantime, preparation is also critical for attenuating switch cost (Kiesel et al., 2010). Studies have shown that adapting to a series of self-control tasks could counterintuitively offset the depletion effect because the requirement of continuous exertion would help respondents get more prepared for switching to the following demanding task (Converse and Deshon, 2009; Xiao et al., in press). Since these findings can hardly be reconciled with the motivation-shift mechanism, we argue that the cognitive adaptation mechanism addresses another unique feature of self-control depletion and parallels the motivation-shift mechanism. Finding out how these two processes interact with each other during consecutive exertion is an important question for future research. We suggest both the interference of the lingered control processes after initial exertion and the decreased motivation to engage in further effortful work contribute to impaired performance on the subsequent task. At the same time, there is also a competition between the adaptation process and the motivational process such that successful adaptation, either to the initial or to the following task, would gradually reduce the role of motivation-shift as adaptation attenuates the aversiveness of effort exertion that necessitates the motivated switching of task priorities (Inzlicht et al., 2014), thus helping to overcome self-control depletion without recurring to additional motivation.

Self-Regulating Enhances Self-Regulation in Subsequent Consumer Decisions Involving Similar Response Conflicts

Ego depletion, the observation that self-regulation reduces subsequent self-regulation, is a remarkably robust phenomenon, and the generalization to the consumer domain appears undisputable. Contrary to most other self-regulatory situations, however, consecutive self-regulatory decisions in consumer settings tend to be similar in the control processes that they recruit. Three experiments demonstrate the pivotal role of similarity. When two consecutive self-regulatory situations require similar control processes (e.g., restraining food intake), initial engagement in self-regulation enhances subsequent self-regulation. Our data thus challenge the self-regulatory strength model of (consumer) self-regulatory decision making but are consistent with cognitive control theory.

Mediator and moderator effects of demands on self-control in the relationship between work load and indicators of job strain

Employees are increasingly facing concentration requirements (qualitative work load) and high work pressure (quantitative work load) combined with demands on self-control (impulse control, resisting distractions, and overcoming inner resistances). This study focuses on self-control processes through which high work load increases job strain, thus having a debilitating effect on the employee. It is one of only a few investigations into these mechanisms. In line with theoretical notions of Hacker's (2005) Action Regulation Theory and empirical findings on self-control, it was assumed that demands on self-control mediate the adverse impact of high work load on indicators of job strain. Furthermore, since increased work load and self-control demands elicit similar control processes drawing on the same limited regulatory resources, both stressors were also expected to interact in the prediction of high strain at work. Using data from 574 employees of a large administrative organization in Germany, Structural Equation Modelling revealed that overcoming inner resistance partly functioned as a mediator in the prediction of job strain by qualitative work load. In addition, significant interaction effects between qualitative work load and impulse control as well as between both of the work load variables and resisting distractions were found. Emotional exhaustion as a job-related dimension of psychological well-being, and anxiety representing a general aspect of well-being, were considered as indicators of job strain.

Hitting a moving target: Perception and action in the timing of rapid interceptions

Different interceptive tasks and modes of interception (hitting or capturing) do not necessarily involve similar control processes. Control based on preprogramming of movement parameters is possible for actions with brief movement times but is now widely rejected; continuous perceptuomotor control models are preferred for all types of interception. The rejection of preprogrammed control and acceptance of continuous control is evaluated for the timing of rapidly executed, manual hitting actions. It is shown that a preprogrammed control model is capable of providing a convincing account of observed behavior patterns that avoids many of the arguments that have been raised against it. Prominent continuous perceptual control models are analyzed within a common framework and are shown to be interpretable as feedback control strategies. Although these models can explain observations of on-line adjustments to movement, they offer only post hoc explanations for observed behavior patterns in hitting tasks and are not directly supported by data. It is proposed that rapid manual hitting tasks make up a class of interceptions for which a preprogrammed strategy is adopted--a strategy that minimizes the role of visual feedback. Such a strategy is effective when the task demands a high degree of temporal accuracy.