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

采用任务转换范式，研究了认知控制对选择性注意和动作控制灵活性的影响。以往的研究很少研究认知控制在多大程度上包含了特定的模态成分。通过这里描述的两个系列的实验，我们将继续现有的跨模态视听刺激灵活模态切换项目。到目前为止，研究结果表明明确的特定模态的不对称性相对于性能成本的指示模态开关（模态开关成本），以及相互干扰（一致性效应）。显示了模态优势关系，这取决于刺激材料（空间与数字）和任务要求（例如，局部化对数值大小判断）。基于这些发现，我们将扩展调查模式的不对称跨模态干扰的一个额外的方式，触觉方式，在第一系列的实验。为了研究具体的交互方式和任务要求，我们将不同类型的任务要求（空间与时间的歧视），除了成对的方式组合（视觉-触觉，触觉，视觉-听觉）方面的假设，在处理方式的适当性。我们期望在空间任务中视觉优势。在第二个系列的实验中，我们将探讨抑制过程中涉及的跨模态注意转换作为一个特定方面的选择性注意的刺激方式的水平。刺激将以三种方式（视觉、听觉、触觉）呈现，n-2重复成本将被记录为持续抑制（向后抑制）的标记。基于这些发现，我们将建立一个工作模型，指定灵活的特定模态的注意权重作为任务要求和模态优势关系的函数，以有助于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.