Explorations in the structure of task spaces

Abstract

Starting with outlining some analogies between task-set reconfiguration on the one hand and motor programming on the other hand, in this paper a perspective on task shifting is delineated that highlights the importance of taking into account the representational structures individual task sets are embedded in. It is shown that the relative difficulty of identical transitions between individual tasks depends on the relations between all tasks that possibly have to be performed in a certain situation. Thus, when focusing on transitions between subsequent trials only, discrepant findings are to be expected that can only be resolved by taking into account the context in which these transitions take place.