The Impact of Immediate and Delayed Rewards on Task-Switching Performance

• DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15020100
• Publication Date: 2025-01-21T16:47:32Z
• Authors: Guang Zhao; Huijun Wang; Rongtao Wu; Zixin Zhao; Shiyi Li; Qiang Wang; Hong-Jin Sun
• Keywords: Task Switching

Background/Objectives: Switching between different tasks incurs switch costs. Previous research has demonstrated that rewards can enhance performance in cognitive tasks. However, prior studies have primarily focused on the overall improvement task performance, with limited how types of function under various conditions. This study aims to investigate distinct effects immediate and delayed conditions (repeated trials task-switching trials) explore underlying neural mechanisms, particularly focusing influence attention allocation during concurrent processing multiple cues. Methods: recruited 27 college students (average age 19 years old, 10 males 17 females). A cue-based paradigm incorporating was employed. The examined repeated trials. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded mechanisms reward allocation. Results: Behavioral results indicated significantly enhanced compared rewards. In contrast, no significant difference observed ERP showed induced a larger P300 amplitude than repetition condition. No found Conclusions: findings suggest by optimizing ongoing when cues are processed concurrently. When additional resources required process task-related cues, there may be insufficient remaining capacity effectively which could essential for optimal completion task. These support Expected Value Control (EVC) theory scenarios.