执行控制研究的重要范式——任务切换

Task Switching, A Paradigm in the Study of Executive Control

任务切换是当前研究执行控制的重要范式。被试完成切换任务要慢于完成重复任务,并且往往有更高的错误率,这种差异称为切换损失。该文对此领域的研究进行了回顾,介绍了任务切换研究范式的发展,重点阐述了对切换损失来源的三种主要解释:任务重建、联结竞争和任务设置的惯性;指出任务切换与其他范式的结合是更深入地了解执行控制的可行途径。最后进行了简要的总结与展望。

Task switching is an important paradigm in the study of executive control. Switch cost refers to the performance difference in task-switch and task-repeat trails, which is an indicator of executive control. The mechanisms of switch cost are complex and there are many controversies in this filed. Three of the most popular theories were reviewed in this paper: task-set reconfiguration, task set priming and task set inertia, together with experimental evidence supporting or refuting these theories.