BIROn - Birkbeck Institutional Research Online

    Task inhibition, conflict, and the n-2 repetition cost: A combined computational and empirical approach

    Sexton, Nicholas J. and Cooper, Richard P. (2017) Task inhibition, conflict, and the n-2 repetition cost: A combined computational and empirical approach. Cognitive Psychology 94 , pp. 1-25. ISSN 0010-0285.

    This is the latest version of this item.

    [img] Text
    n2rep_paper_main.pdf - Author's Accepted Manuscript
    Restricted to Repository staff only

    Download (959kB) | Request a copy
    [img]
    Preview
    Text
    17947A.pdf - Published Version of Record
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

    Download (2MB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Task inhibition (also known as backward inhibition) is an hypothesised form of cognitive inhibition evident in multi-task situations, with the role of facilitating switching between multiple, competing tasks. This article presents a novel cognitive computational model of a backward inhibition mechanism. By combining aspects of previous cognitive models in task switching and conflict monitoring, the model instantiates the theoretical proposal that backward inhibition is the direct result of conflict between multiple task representations. In a first simulation, we demonstrate that the model produces two effects widely observed in the empirical literature, specifically, reaction time costs for both (n-1) task switches and n-2 task repeats. Through a systematic search of parameter space, we demonstrate that these effects are a general property of the model's theoretical content, and not specific parameter settings. We further demonstrate that the model captures previously reported empirical effects of inter-trial interval on n-2 switch costs. A final simulation extends the paradigm of switching between tasks of asymmetric difficulty to three tasks, and generates novel predictions for n-2 repetition costs. Specifically, the model predicts that n-2 repetition costs associated with hard-easy-hard alternations are greater than for easy-hard-easy alternations. Finally, we report two behavioural experiments testing this hypothesis, with results consistent with the model predictions.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: Nicholas J. Sexton was supported by an ESRC studentship. This work was completed as part of his PhD, under the supervision of Richard P. Cooper.
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
    Research Centres and Institutes: Cognition, Computation and Modelling, Centre for
    Depositing User: Rick Cooper
    Date Deposited: 17 Jan 2017 16:27
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:30
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/17947

    Available Versions of this Item

    • Task inhibition, conflict, and the n-2 repetition cost: A combined computational and empirical approach. (deposited 17 Jan 2017 16:27) [Currently Displayed]

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    304Downloads
    6 month trend
    319Hits

    Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.

    Archive Staff Only (login required)

    Edit/View Item Edit/View Item