Citation

Philipp AM, Koch I. Adv. Cogn. Psychol. 2011; 7(7): 31-38.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, RWTHAachen University, Aachen, Germany; Department of Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Walter de Gruyter)

DOI

10.2478/v10053-008-0085-1

PMID

21818244

PMCID

PMC3149918

Abstract

The execution of a task necessitates the use of a specific response modality. We examined the role of different response modalities by using a task-switching paradigm. In Experiment 1, subjects switched between two numerical judgments, whereas response modality (vocal vs. manual vs. foot responses) was manipulated between groups. We found judgment-shift costs in each group, that is irrespective of the response modality. In Experiment 2, subjects switched between response modalities (vocal vs. manual, vocal vs. foot, or manual vs. foot). We observed response-modality shift costs that were comparable in all groups. In sum, the experiments suggest that the response modality (combination) does not affect switching per se. Yet, modality-shift costs occur when subjects switch between response modalities. Thus, we suppose that modality-shift costs are not due to a purely motor-related mechanisms but rather emerge from a general switching process. Consequently, the response modality has to be considered as a cognitive component in models of task switching.

Language: en