Time-Based Transition Expectancy in Task Switching: Do We Need to Know the Task to Switch to?

Aufschnaiter, Stefanie; Kiesel, Andrea; Thomaschke, Roland · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.5334/joc.145

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study investigates whether humans can implicitly prepare for task transitions (switches vs. repetitions) based on temporal cues without knowing the specific identity of the upcoming task. Previous research demonstrated that participants benefit from time-based expectancy when pre-target intervals predict task transitions, but those studies used only two tasks. In a two-task paradigm, predicting a transition implicitly reveals the specific task identity (since the other task must be the one not just performed). The authors aimed to disentangle whether this benefit stems from specific task preparation or unspecific transition preparation by employing a three-task paradigm, where a predicted switch leaves two possible tasks equally probable. The experiment involved 192 participants who performed three tasks (magnitude, parity, and inner-outer judgments) signaled by colored numbers. Two pre-target intervals (500 ms and 1500 ms) were used, with one interval predicting a task switch with 90% probability and the other predicting a repetition with 90% probability. Participants were unaware of these temporal contingencies. The design included a between-subjects factor manipulating which interval predicted repetition to test for inhibitory mechanisms. The researchers utilized Bayesian ANOVA to evaluate evidence for three hypotheses: unspecific preparation (benefit for both switches and repetitions), specific preparation (benefit only for repetitions), or no effect. Results from 189 participants showed significant main effects for both task transition and predictability. Reaction times were faster for repetitions than switches, and faster for trials with validly predicted transitions than invalidly predicted ones. Crucially, participants exhibited a time-based expectancy effect for both task switches and task repetitions. Specifically, responses in predictable switch trials were significantly faster than in unpredictable switch trials. This finding supports the hypothesis that humans can prepare for a task switch in an unspecific manner, likely by inhibiting the task just performed in the previous trial, rather than requiring knowledge of the specific upcoming task. The study also found anecdotal evidence for a three-way interaction involving the interval of expected repetition, suggesting potential differences in inhibitory processes depending on when repetitions are expected, though this effect was not robust. The findings imply that anticipatory cognitive control in task switching involves a two-stage preparation model. Both switches and repetitions benefit from time-based transition expectancy, but through different cognitive processes: repetitions likely involve specific task activation, while switches involve unspecific preparation via backward inhibition of the previous task set. This challenges the view that specific task information is necessary for temporal preparation benefits and highlights the role of inhibition in managing task switches. The study provides important insights for future research on the mechanisms underlying human multitasking and cognitive control.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-25; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• task switching