TY - JOUR
T1 - Limits of executive control : sequential effects in predictable environments
AU - Verbruggen, Frederick
AU - McAndrew, Amy
AU - Weidemann, Gabrielle
AU - Stevens, Tobias
AU - McLaren, Ian P. L.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Cognitive-control theories attribute action control to executive processes that modulate behavior on the basis of expectancy or task rules. In the current study, we examined corticospinal excitability and behavioral performance in a go/no-go task. Go and no-go trials were presented in runs of five, and go and no-go runs alternated predictably. At the beginning of each trial, subjects indicated whether they expected a go trial or a no-go trial. Analyses revealed that subjects immediately adjusted their expectancy ratings when a new run started. However, motor excitability was primarily associated with the properties of the previous trial, rather than the predicted properties of the current trial. We also observed a large latency cost at the beginning of a go run (i.e., reaction times were longer for the first trial in a go run than for the second trial). These findings indicate that actions in predictable environments are substantially influenced by previous events, even if this influence conflicts with conscious expectancies about upcoming events.
AB - Cognitive-control theories attribute action control to executive processes that modulate behavior on the basis of expectancy or task rules. In the current study, we examined corticospinal excitability and behavioral performance in a go/no-go task. Go and no-go trials were presented in runs of five, and go and no-go runs alternated predictably. At the beginning of each trial, subjects indicated whether they expected a go trial or a no-go trial. Analyses revealed that subjects immediately adjusted their expectancy ratings when a new run started. However, motor excitability was primarily associated with the properties of the previous trial, rather than the predicted properties of the current trial. We also observed a large latency cost at the beginning of a go run (i.e., reaction times were longer for the first trial in a go run than for the second trial). These findings indicate that actions in predictable environments are substantially influenced by previous events, even if this influence conflicts with conscious expectancies about upcoming events.
KW - cognition
KW - executive ability
KW - magnetic brain stimulation
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:34433
U2 - 10.1177/0956797616631990
DO - 10.1177/0956797616631990
M3 - Article
SN - 0956-7976
VL - 27
SP - 748
EP - 757
JO - Psychological Science
JF - Psychological Science
IS - 5
ER -