Task-set switching and long-term memory retrieval

The authors tested the hypothesis of a close relationship between the inten tional component of task-set switching ("advance reconfiguration;" R. D. Ro gers & S. Monsell, 1995) and long-term memory (LTM) retrieval. Consistent w ith this hypothesis, switch costs are reported to be larger when the switch ed-to task involves high retrieval demands (i.e., retrieval of episodic inf ormation) than when it involves low retrieval demands (i.e., retrieval of s emantic information). In contrast, switch costs were not affected by a prim ary-task difficulty manipulation unrelated to intentional retrieval demands (Experiment 2). Also, the retrieval-demand effect on switch costs was elim inated when time for advanced preparation or task cues explicitly specifyin g the task rules were provided (Experiment 3). Overall, results were consis tent with the hypothesis that the intentional switch-cost component reflect s the time demands of retrieving appropriate task rules from LTM.