Investigating task inhibition in children versus adults: A diffusion model analysis

• Task inhibition (N-2 task repetition costs) was measured in children and young adults.
• Diffusion model and Ex-Gaussian analysis revealed differences between the age groups.
• In adults, task inhibition was reflected in drift rate and tau parameter.
• This means that adults show impaired response selection in inhibited tasks.
• In children, task inhibition was reflected in non-decision time and mu parameter.
• This suggests that children show longer preparation time for inhibited tasks.

One can take n − 2 task repetition costs as a measure of inhibition on the level of task sets. When switching back to a Task A after only one intermediate trial (ABA task sequence), Task A is thought to still be inhibited, leading to performance costs relative to task sequences where switching back to Task A is preceded by at least two intermediary trials (CBA). The current study investigated differences in inhibitory ability between children and adults by comparing n − 2 task repetition costs in children (9–11 years of age, N = 32) and young adults (21–30 years of age, N = 32). The mean reaction times and error rate differences between ABA and CBA sequences did not differ between the two age groups. However, diffusion model analysis revealed that different cognitive processes contribute to the inhibition effect in the two age groups: The adults, but not the children, showed a smaller drift rate in ABA than in CBA, suggesting that persisting task inhibition is associated with slower response selection in adults. In children, non-decision time was longer in ABA than in CBA, possibly reflecting longer task preparation in ABA than in CBA. In addition, Ex–Gaussian functions were fitted to the distributions of correct reaction times. In adults, the ABA–CBA difference was reflected in the exponential parameter of the distribution; in children, the ABA–CBA difference was found in the Gaussian mu parameter. Hence, Ex–Gaussian analysis, although noisier, was generally in line with diffusion model analysis. Taken together, the data suggest that the task inhibition effect found in mean performance is mediated by different cognitive processes in children versus adults.