Dissociating cue-related and task-related processes in task inhibition: evidence from using a 2:1 cue-to-task mapping

Performance of task sequences is assumed to rely on activation and inhibition of tasks. Ah empirical marker of task inhibition is the so-called n--2 repetition cost, which is assessed by comparing performance in trial n--2 task repetitions (i.e., ABA) with that in n--2 task switches (i.e., CBA). Current theoretical accounts assume that inhibition acts on the level of task representations (i.e., task sets). However, another potential target of task inhibition could be the representation of the task cue. To decide between these two alternatives, the authors used a 2:1 cue-to-task mapping design. They found significant n--2 task repetition costs both with n--2 cue repetitions and n--2 cue switches. These costs were about equal (Experiment 1), and this data pattern was found for both short and long cuing intervals (Experiment 2). Together, the data suggest that task inhibition acts on task sets and not on cue representations. Keywords: cognitive control, task sequence performance, inhibition, cue-based processes On reconnait generalement que la performance lors de l'execution d'une sequence de taches repose sur l'activation et l'inhibition de la tache. Un indicateur empirique de l'inhibition de la tache, le << cout associe a la repetition de la tache >>, est evalue par la comparaison de la performance a des repetitions de taches n/2 lors de la phase d'essai (c.-a-d. aba) avec la performance a une permutation de taches n/2 (c.-a-d. CBA). Selon les theories actuelles, cette inhibition a une incidence sur le niveau de representation de la tache (c.-a-d. series de taches). Toutefois, une autre cible po tentielle de l'inhibition de la tache pourrait etre la representation de l'indice d'activation de la tache. Pour verifier la deuxieme hypothese, nous avons concu un modele de mappage indice-tache. Nous avons observe des couts de repetition n/2 significatifs, autant avec les repetitions n/2 qu'avec les pernmtations de l'indice n/2. Ces couts etaient pratiquement identiques (experience 1) et le meme schema de donnees produit par les intervalles d'amorce courts et les intervalles d'amorce longs a ete observe. Dans l'ensemble, ces donnees semblent indiquer que l'inhibition de la tache a une incidence sur la serie de taches et non sur la representation de l'amorce.