Distinct Control States Underlie Voluntary Task Switching: Evidence for Capacity-Dependent Control Modes

Abstract

People often switch tasks when attention wanes or an alternative task becomes more appealing. Such choices may reflect different control modes that may vary with working memory (WM) capacity. This study tested whether momentary attentional lapses prospectively predict voluntary task switching and whether this relationship depends on WM capacity. Participants performed a continuous performance task involving face and scene images, with blocks in which they either freely chose the next task or followed an externally imposed sequence. The results suggested a capacity-dependent pattern in which individuals with lower WM capacity were more likely to switch following lapse-prone blocks, whereas higher-capacity individuals tended to switch from relatively well-focused states. Eye-tracking revealed greater bias toward the competing irrelevant category before switches in lower-capacity individuals, accompanied by early conflict-related pupil dilation. Externally imposed task sequencing selectively reduced lapses in the lower-capacity group without affecting higher-capacity performance, suggesting that external structure can scaffold weaker internal goal maintenance. These findings suggest that the relationship between lapses and voluntary switching varies with WM capacity rather than being uniform across individuals. This pattern is consistent with a goal-competition account in which lapses reflect shifts in the balance between competing task goals, and voluntary switches may be preceded by different control states.