Response-based strengthening in task shifting: Evidence from shift effects produced by errors.

Abstract

The hypothesis is introduced that 1 source of shift costs is the strengthening of task-related associations occurring whenever an overt response is produced. The authors tested this account by examining shift effects following errors and error compensation processes. The authors predicted that following a specific type of error, called task confusion, shift benefits instead of shift costs should result. A series of 3 experiments confirmed this prediction showing that task confusions produce shift benefits in subsequent trials (Experiment 1), even when the error is detected (Experiment 2). Moreover, only posterror processes that imply an error correction response produce shift costs (Experiment 3). These results additionally suggest that error detection cannot prevent errors from affecting subsequent performance.

Modeling behavioral measures of error detection in choice tasks: Response monitoring versus conflict monitoring.

“…A preliminary analysis revealed that a substantial number of errors were spontaneously corrected in the ESR condition, although this was not instructed. Possibly, the tendency to spontaneously correct errors is facilitated when an ESR is required (e.g., Steinhauser & Hübner, 2006). Interestingly, more than one third of these spontaneously corrected errors did not lead to an ESR, although this was instructed.…”

“…The low and high deadlines were obtained by subtracting 50 ms from and adding 50 ms to the intermediate 3 Alternatively, we could also have used spontaneous error corrections as a measure of ECR performance (Fiehler et al, 2005). However, there is evidence that error corrections are actively suppressed if they are not instructed (Rabbitt & Rodgers, 1977;Steinhauser & Hübner, 2006). Accordingly, not all internal corrections would have led to an ECR.…”

Cognitive Control Under Stress

“…A second component, which is present even for long CSIs, is called the residual costs. This component is not related to reconfiguration, but is thought to reflect task priming or associative strengthening (e.g., Schuch & Koch, 2003;Steinhauser & Hü bner, 2006). However, even on taskrepetition trials, performance is improved with a longer CSI.…”

Response-repetition costs in task switching: How they are modulated by previous-trial response-category activation

“…Only responses after a correct response to 51 were included (5teinhauser & Hiibner, 2006). The mean latencies of the responses to the second stimulus were entered into a two-factor ANOVA with the within-participant factors response (repetition, shift) and previous-trial congruency (neutral, congruent, incongruent Fig.…”

“…This inhibition of the previous response then produces costs for response repetitions on the current trial. The frequent result that no costs are observed on task-repetition trials (but see e.g., Cooper & Mari-Beffa, 2008;Steinhauser & Hiibner, 2006) is explained by the fact that on these trials other features of the previous task, e.g. the stimulus category or even the stimulus, also repeat, and that the positive effects of these repetitions outweigh the costs of a repeating response (see also Altmann, 2011).…”