Effects of repetition and foreknowledge in task-set reconfiguration

To examine the roles of executive control and automatic activation in task switching, we manipulated foreknowledge as well as task transitions. In Exp eriments 1 and 2, performance with foreknowledge was faster than performanc e with no foreknowledge, but the amount of switch cost did not depend on fo reknowledge. This result suggests that switch costs primarily reflect persi sting activation rather than inadequate preparation. In Experiment 3, switc h cost was greater with foreknowledge about task transition alone than with foreknowledge about both task transition and identity, suggesting that for eknowledge about specific task identity did allow preparation for a switche d task. We argue that task repetition and foreknowledge effects are indepen dent. Although foreknowledge allows preparation for both repeated and switc hed tasks, repeating the same task has benefits over task switching regardl ess of foreknowledge.