#Note/Permanent #CognitiveScience #Productivity/TaskManagement/TaskSwitching Switch Cost refers to the performance decline, such as increased response time and higher error rates, experienced when switching from one task to another. This cost becomes more pronounced when the new task is unrelated to the previous one, as it requires the brain to reconfigure the [[Task Set|task set]]. ![[Predictable task switching.png]] The term _switch cost_ was first introduced in a study[^1] using the predictable task switching paradigm. Even though the tasks were relatively simple, the observed switch costs were substantial when switching from task A to task B. The review[^2] also indicated that temporal preparation and [[Task Set|task set]] decay are not significant factors in reducing switch costs across various task switching paradigms. [^1]: [Costs of a predictable switch between simple cognitive tasks.](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-31890-001) [^2]: [Control and Interference in Task Switching - A Review](https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/fileadmin/06020300/user_upload/Kiesel/Kiesel_etal_2010_Psychological_Bulletin.pdf)