Cognitive control is modulated by hierarchical complexity of task switching: An event-related potential study

The study aimed to explore the effect of hierarchical complexity on task switching. The participants (n = 36) were asked to perform a magnitude or parity judgement on digits (1−9) in the hierarchical simple or complex block. In the simple block, participants made a numerical judgement on the present...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioural brain research 2022-09, Vol.434, p.114025-114025, Article 114025
Main Authors: Wu, Jianxiao, Chen, Yun, Li, Zixia, Li, Fuhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cognitive control
Hierarchical complexity
Hierarchical structure
Switch cost
Task switch
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Summary:The study aimed to explore the effect of hierarchical complexity on task switching. The participants (n = 36) were asked to perform a magnitude or parity judgement on digits (1−9) in the hierarchical simple or complex block. In the simple block, participants made a numerical judgement on the presented digit (1−9) in each trial, whereas in the complex block, they had to first identify whether the digit in the current trial belonged to a predefined category (e.g., whether it was an even number), then perform a numerical judgement or not respond. The behavioural results revealed a significant interaction between hierarchical complexity and transition type (repeat vs. switch), with greater switch cost in the complex than in the simple block. Event-related potentials (ERPs) locked in the cue stage did not reveal this interaction, whereas the ERPs locked in the target stage revealed this interaction during the N2 and P3 time windows, with a larger switch negativity (switch minus repeat) in the complex than in the simple block. These findings demonstrate that an increase in hierarchical complexity triggers increased reactive control in the inhibition of the old task-set and reconfiguration of the new task-set during task switching.
ISSN:0166-4328
1872-7549
DOI:10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114025