Dynamic Conflict Management: Using performance monitoring to guide stable adjustment in task performance and flexible task selection in self-organized multitasking environments.

认知控制描述了一套允许行为稳定性和灵活性的调节机制。这在多任务处理中可能最为明显。快速连续地执行多个任务需要稳定地维护任务目标以成功地执行单个任务。此外，它需要在任务之间灵活切换，以适当地安排事件的顺序。控制通常由关键事件（例如相互不兼容的响应之间的冲突）触发，这些事件表明需要修改先前的行为。最近的研究表明，任务执行过程中的冲突具有双重功能。一方面，它标志着需要更多的稳定性和更好的任务焦点。另一方面，它作为一个“开关”的线索，信号的机会，脱离目前困难的任务，从而冲突增加了灵活性的任务选择。然而，有人认为，冲突的信号功能关键取决于它在特定背景下的效用。例如，主动控制是一个学习过程的结果，该过程指定何时何地预期冲突或多或少。在这个项目中，我们的目标是研究这种主动控制的任务选择和任务性能在多任务处理。更具体地说，这个项目的一个目标是评估如何主动控制的冲突在任务执行通知任务的选择，此外，我们将测试如何选择任务的可能性改变主动控制在任务执行。现在，假设冲突具有这样的信号功能，那么问题就出现了，它如何影响稳定性和灵活性。根据理论模型，冲突被登记为一个负面的情感信号，然后作为一个共同的货币，以通知不同的控制机制。本项目的另一个目标是测试这一假设，并提供证据表明，冲突在多任务elevents负面影响，并评估冲突触发的影响如何通知主动控制。最后，目前的项目旨在研究如何控制机制的调查可以应用到电机控制。因此，我们将系统地比较认知和运动控制中的控制原则，并探讨跨领域主动控制的可能转移。

Cognitive control describes a set of regulatory mechanisms that allow for stability and flexibility in behavior. This is perhaps most obvious in multitasking. Executing multiple tasks in rapid succession requires the stable maintenance of task goals to successfully perform individual tasks. Additionally it requires flexible switching between tasks to schedule the order of events appropriately. Control is often triggered by critical events (e.g. conflict between mutual incompatible responses) that signal the need to modify previous behavior. Recent research suggested that conflict during task performance has a two-fold function. One the one hand, it signals the need for more stability and improved task focus. On the other hand, it acts as a "Switch" cue that signals the opportunity to disengage from a currently difficult task; thereby conflict increases flexibility in task choices. Yet, it has been suggested that the signaling function of conflict critically depends on its utility within a given context. For instance, proactive control is the result of a learning process that specifies when and where to expect conflict more or less frequent. In this project we aim to investigate such proactive control for task choices and task performance during multitasking. More specifically, one goal of this project is to assess how proactive control of conflict during task performance informs the selection of tasks; furthermore, we will test how the possibility to choose tasks changes proactive control during task performance. Now, suppose that conflict has such a signaling function, the question arises how it can impact on stability and flexibility. According to theoretical models conflict is registered as a negative affective signal which then serves as a common currency to inform different control mechanisms. Another goal of this project is to test this assumption and to provide evidence that conflict in multitasking elicits negative affect, and to assess how conflict-triggered affect informs proactive control. Finally, the current project aims to investigate how the control mechanisms under investigation can be applied to motor control. Therefore, we will systematically compare control principles in cognitive and motor control and probe a possible transfer of proactive control across domains.