Task Switching
Evaluates executive control costs when alternating between different task sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
Key metric?
Switch cost in reaction time and accuracy.
What does this have to do with everyday phone use?
Switching between two tasks costs time and accuracy — psychologists call it the switching cost. Watching a show while scrolling is not multitasking; it is rapid switching. Doing one thing at a time removes much of that hidden cost.
What exactly is a switch cost?
The reaction-time penalty when the task rule changes from the previous trial — say from letter to number — compared with repeating the same rule, typically tens of milliseconds after practice.
Where does the paradigm come from?
From Jersild's 1927 work, revived by Rogers and Monsell in 1995 with alternating-run designs; Monsell's 2003 review is the standard reference.
Can training reduce my switch cost?
Practicing the task reduces its cost, but evidence that this transfers to unrelated multitasking is weak — switch costs are largely task-specific.
References
- Monsell, S. (2003). Task switching. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 7(3), 134-140. 10.1016/S1364-6613(03)00028-7
- Rogers, R. D., & Monsell, S. (1995). Costs of a predictable switch between simple cognitive tasks. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 124(2), 207-231. 10.1037/0096-3445.124.2.207
- Kiesel, A., Steinhauser, M., Wendt, M., Falkenstein, M., Jost, K., Philipp, A. M., & Koch, I. (2010). Control and interference in task switching—A review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(5), 849-874. 10.1037/a0019842
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About This Experiment
This experiment is an educational adaptation for demonstration purposes. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool. Results reflect your performance in this specific session and should not be interpreted as an assessment of your cognitive abilities.
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