Abstract
How does switching tasks affect our ability to monitor and adapt our behavior? Largely independent lines of research have
examined how individuals monitor their actions and adjust to errors, on the one hand, and how they are able to switch between
two or more tasks, on the other. Few studies, however, have explored how these two aspects of cognitive–behavioral flexibility
interact. That is, how individuals monitor their actions when task rules are switched remains unknown. The present study sought
to address this question by examining the action-monitoring consequences of response switching—a form of task switching that involves switching the response that is associated with a particular stimulus. We recorded event-related
brain potentials (ERPs) while participants performed a modified letter flanker task in which the stimulus–response (S–R) mappings
were reversed between blocks. Specifically, we examined three ERPs—the N2, the error-related negativity (ERN), and the error
positivity (Pe)—that have been closely associated with action monitoring. The findings revealed that S–R reversal blocks were
associated with dynamic alterations of action-monitoring brain activity: the N2 and ERN were enhanced, whereas the Pe was
reduced. Moreover, participants were less likely to adapt their posterror behavior in S–R reversal blocks. Taken together,
these data suggest that response switching results in early enhancements of effortful control mechanisms (N2 and ERN) at the
expense of reductions in later response evaluation processes (Pe). Thus, when rules change, our attempts at control are accompanied
by less attention to our actions.
examined how individuals monitor their actions and adjust to errors, on the one hand, and how they are able to switch between
two or more tasks, on the other. Few studies, however, have explored how these two aspects of cognitive–behavioral flexibility
interact. That is, how individuals monitor their actions when task rules are switched remains unknown. The present study sought
to address this question by examining the action-monitoring consequences of response switching—a form of task switching that involves switching the response that is associated with a particular stimulus. We recorded event-related
brain potentials (ERPs) while participants performed a modified letter flanker task in which the stimulus–response (S–R) mappings
were reversed between blocks. Specifically, we examined three ERPs—the N2, the error-related negativity (ERN), and the error
positivity (Pe)—that have been closely associated with action monitoring. The findings revealed that S–R reversal blocks were
associated with dynamic alterations of action-monitoring brain activity: the N2 and ERN were enhanced, whereas the Pe was
reduced. Moreover, participants were less likely to adapt their posterror behavior in S–R reversal blocks. Taken together,
these data suggest that response switching results in early enhancements of effortful control mechanisms (N2 and ERN) at the
expense of reductions in later response evaluation processes (Pe). Thus, when rules change, our attempts at control are accompanied
by less attention to our actions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-012-0105-y
- Authors
- Hans S. Schroder, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Tim P. Moran, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Jason S. Moser, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Erik M. Altmann, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026