Flexibility as a matter of context, effort, and ability: evidence from the task-switching paradigm

Abstract

One of the hallmarks of human cognition is the flexibility to adjust action and thought to changing demands from the environment. The (voluntary) task-switching (VTS) paradigm is the prime tool to study cognitive flexibility, as it allows measuring the ability (switch costs) and the motivation (voluntary switch rates [VSRs]) to switch between cognitive tasks. We will review recent research showing how switch costs and VSRs are modulated by the task context. We further outline how task difficulty and the individual switching ability influence performance in the VTS paradigm. In sum, the reviewed findings suggest that flexibility is not only a matter of contextual adjustment of cognitive control but also depends on individual differences in task and switching performance.