Computational and neural mechanisms of task switching

Jeremy R. Reynolds; Todd S. Braver; Joshua W. Brown; Stefan Van der Stigchel

doi:10.1016/j.neucom.2005.12.102

Computational and neural mechanisms of task switching

Jeremy R. Reynolds^*, Todd S. Braver, Joshua W. Brown, Stefan Van der Stigchel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Washington University St. Louis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Switching between tasks that overlap in perceptual and response characteristics is assumed to rely upon the maintenance of task representations in prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, task-switching studies demonstrate "switch costs," even when there is sufficient time to prepare for a new task. These costs suggest that task-switching performance reflects a complex interplay between priming and the updating and maintenance of task representations. We describe a computational model in which this interaction is made explicit and linked to the dynamics of PFC. Simulation results account for a variety of empirical phenomena and predict a double dissociation in lateral PFC that was subsequently identified.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1332-1336
Number of pages	5
Journal	Neurocomputing
Volume	69
Issue number	10-12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2005.12.102
Publication status	Published - May 2006

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We are grateful to Andy Jones and Nicole Speer for helpful comments and suggestions. Supported by the Office of Naval Research (grant N00014-00-1- 0715) awarded to TSB and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship awarded to JRR.

Funding

We are grateful to Andy Jones and Nicole Speer for helpful comments and suggestions. Supported by the Office of Naval Research (grant N00014-00-1- 0715) awarded to TSB and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship awarded to JRR.

Keywords

Behavior
Cognitive control
Functional imaging
Prefrontal cortex
Task switching

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10.1016/j.neucom.2005.12.102

Cite this

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title = "Computational and neural mechanisms of task switching",

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author = "Reynolds, {Jeremy R.} and Braver, {Todd S.} and Brown, {Joshua W.} and {Van der Stigchel}, Stefan",

note = "Funding Information: We are grateful to Andy Jones and Nicole Speer for helpful comments and suggestions. Supported by the Office of Naval Research (grant N00014-00-1- 0715) awarded to TSB and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship awarded to JRR. ",

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doi = "10.1016/j.neucom.2005.12.102",

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AU - Reynolds, Jeremy R.

AU - Braver, Todd S.

AU - Brown, Joshua W.

AU - Van der Stigchel, Stefan

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KW - Cognitive control

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Computational and neural mechanisms of task switching

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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Keywords

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