The Account of the Effect of Switch Probability on Switch and Mixing Costs: An ERP Study in a Cued Task-switching Paradigm

Background: Whether the effect of switch probability on switch and mixing costs is explained by an activation or preparation account is unclear. Objective: To investigate the account of the effect of switch probability on switch and mixing costs. Method: We used a cued task-switching paradigm with three switch probabilities (high, 75%; medium, 50%; and low, 25%) with 19 healthy young adults and recorded the cue- and target-locked event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioral performance. The task included switch and stay trials under high, medium, and low switch conditions, as well as pure trials. Results: There was no significant difference in reaction time (RT) in switch and mixing costs between the high and medium switch conditions. The RT in switch and mixing costs in the high and medium switch conditions was significantly less and more than in the low switch condition, respectively. The cue-locked ERPs revealed significant effects on mixing costs (stay − pure) that were cue early frontal positivity (260–300 ms) in the high and medium switch conditions, and on switch costs (switch − stay) that were cue early central positivity (240–260 ms) in the low switch condition. Moreover, the target-locked ERPs of the mixing costs revealed significant effects on mixing costs that were target P3b (440–540 ms) in all three switch conditions, and on switch costs that were target P3b in the medium and low switch conditions. Conclusion: The effect of switch probability on switch and mixing costs is explained by the activation account.