Effect of arousal increase in predictable and random task switching: evidence for the involvement of the anterior attentional network in random but not in predictable task switching.

Switch cost does not disappear as more preparation time for the next task is allowed. Tornay and Milán showed that the residual cost is smaller when tasks switch randomly than when they alternate in predictable sequences. They proposed that the difference was due to control mechanisms (anterior attentional network) being activated in the random condition because of its overall difficulty. Besides, it has been shown that increasing arousal levels inhibits the anterior attentional network. Therefore, Tornay and Milán's account predicts that high arousal should result in switch cost for the random condition increasing to the levels of predictable switching. In this work, this prediction was tested by assessing the interaction between increased arousal and switch cost with both predictable and random-task switching. The results may help to solve the ongoing controversy about the causes of switch cost.

Effect of arousal increase in predictable and random task switching: Evidence for the involvement of the anterior attentional network in random but not in predictable task switching

Switch cost does not disappear as more preparation time for the next task is allowed. Tornay and Milán showed that the residual cost is smaller when tasks switch randomly than when they alternate in predictable sequences. They proposed that the difference was due to control mechanisms (anterior attentional network) being activated in the random condition because of its overall difficulty. Besides, it has been shown that increasing arousal levels inhibits the anterior attentional network. Therefore, Tornay and Milán’s account predicts that high arousal should result in switch cost for the random condition increasing to the levels of predictable switching. In this work, this prediction was tested by assessing the interaction between increased arousal and switch cost with both predictable and randomtask switching. The results may help to solve the ongoing controversy about the causes of switch cost (AU)

Tornay y Milan encontraron que el costo por cambio tiende a ser más pequeño cuando las tareas cambian de forma aleatoria que cuando lo hace de forma predecible. Estos autores proponen que esta diferencia es debida a la activación de la Red Atencional Anterior (RAA), provocada por las dificultades cognitivas que impone el cambio aleatorio. En este trabajo se sugiere que en las tareas de cambio aleatorio es posible recuperar el costo si la RAA es inhibida por la activación de la red de alerta. Se pone a prueba esta hipótesis evaluando la interacción entre el incremento de la activación (red de alerta) y el costo, tanto en cambio predecible como aleatorio. El resultado obtenido confirma la hipótesis y sugiere que las diferencias en costo por cambio entre tareas predecibles y aleatorias son debidas a la participación de mecanismos de control atencional. Estos datos pueden ayudar a aclarar la controversia existente al respecto (AU)