Models of Cognitive Control in Task Switching

Abstract This chapter reviews the efforts of theorists in developing and testing formal (i.e. not purely verbal) models of cognitive control during task switching. First, it provides an overview of the architecture of extant models of task switching. To ease exposition, the models are grouped into three classes: mathematical models, computational models, and neural network models. The second section covers key empirical/theoretical concepts in the task switching literature, discussing how the models explain them. In particular, it focuses on each model's explanation of task sets and the switch cost. The third section highlights areas that the models do not cover or that require more elaboration in future modeling work. The chapter concludes that, despite the impressive progress made on the development of theories of task switching, there are important and rather neglected aspects that need to be addressed in future models. One important direction is the formalization of inhibitory processes during task switching.