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A brain‐potential correlate of task‐set conflict
Author(s) -
Elchlepp Heike,
Rumball Freya,
Lavric Aureliu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12015
Subject(s) - psychology , negativity effect , task (project management) , set (abstract data type) , cognitive psychology , task switching , control reconfiguration , stimulus–response compatibility , event related potential , cognition , communication , neuroscience , computer science , management , embedded system , economics , programming language
Brain‐potential correlates of response conflict are well documented, but those of task conflict are not. Task‐switching studies have suggested a plausible correlate of task conflict—a poststimulus posterior negativity—however, in such paradigms the negativity may also reflect poststimulus task‐set reconfiguration postulated in some models. Here, participants alternated between single‐task blocks of classifying letters and digits; hence, no within‐block task‐set reconfiguration was required. Presenting letters alongside digits slowed responses to the digits and elicited an ERP negativity from ∼350 ms, relative to task‐neutral symbols presented alongside digits, consistent with task conflict. The negativity was also present for congruent digit‐letter stimuli; this and the lack of behavioral response congruency effects indicate conflict at the level of task‐set rather than response selection.