Crossmodal selective attention and inhibition in task switching: Studies on modality-specific processes in cognitive control

认知控制作为选择性注意和行动控制灵活性的关键因素，采用任务转换范式进行了研究。以往的研究很少研究认知控制在多大程度上结合了模态特定成分。通过这两个系列的实验，我们将继续现有的跨模态视觉-听觉刺激的灵活模态转换项目。到目前为止的研究结果表明，在指示模式切换的绩效成本（模式切换成本）和相互干扰（一致性效应）方面，存在明显的模式特异性不对称性。模态优势关系取决于刺激材料（空间与数值）和任务要求（例如，定位与数值大小判断）。基于这些发现，我们将在第一系列实验中将非对称交叉模态干涉模式的研究扩展到另一个模态，即触觉模态。为了研究模态和任务要求的具体相互作用，我们将根据加工中的模态适当性假设，改变任务要求的类型（空间与时间歧视）以及成对的模态组合（视觉-触觉、听觉-触觉、视觉-听觉）。我们期望在空间任务中视觉优势。在第二个系列的实验中，我们将在刺激模态水平上研究选择性注意的一个特定方面，即涉及跨模态注意转换的抑制过程。刺激将以三种方式（视觉、听觉、触觉）呈现，n-2次重复成本将被注册为持续抑制（向后抑制）的标记。基于这些发现，我们将建立一个工作模型，将灵活的特定于模态的注意权重作为任务要求和模态优势关系的函数，以便更好地理解认知控制的机制。

Cognitive control as a crucial factor for the flexibility of selective attention and action control is investigated using the task-switching paradigm. Previous research has rarely studied to what extent cognitive control incorporates modality-specific components. With the two series of experiments described here, we will continue an existing project on flexible modality switching with crossmodal visuo-auditory stimulation. Findings up to now indicate clear modality-specific asymmetries with respect to performance costs of instructed modality switches (modality switch costs) as well as mutual interference (congruency effects). Modality dominance relations were shown, which depend on stimulus material (spatial vs. numerical) and task requirements (e.g., localization vs. numerical magnitude judgment). Based on these findings, we will extend the investigation of patterns of asymmetric crossmodal interference to an additional modality, the tactile modality, in a first series of experiments. To investigate specific interactions of modalities and task requirements, we will vary the type of task requirements (spatial vs. temporal discrimination) in addition to pairwise modality combinations (visuo-tactile, auditory-tactile, visuo-auditory) with regard to the hypothesis of modality appropriateness in processing. We expect visual dominance in spatial tasks. In a second series of experiments, we will investigate inhibitory processes involved in crossmodal attention switching as a specific aspect of selective attention on the level of stimulus modalities. Stimuli will be presented in three modalities (visual, auditory, tactile) and n-2 repetition costs will be registered as a marker for persisting inhibition (backward inhibition). Based on these findings, we will establish a working model that specifies flexible modality-specific attentional weights as a function of task requirements and modality dominance relations in order to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of cognitive control.