MyTest

  Cognitive control refers to the goal-directed mental process by which individuals flexibly allocate cognitive resources to adjust thoughts and behaviors in specific contexts. Traditionally, researchers have largely considered cognitive control as domain-general, implying that the same cognitive processes are employed across different situations. However, accumulating evidence over recent decades supports domain-specificity, resulting in a debate between domain-general and domain-specific theories within the field. Recent studies suggest that cognitive control may exhibit both general and specific characteristics, which can manifest in different brain regions or through distinct representational formats within the same region. While this hybrid view has reconciled some conflicts, the dichotomy remains problematic. For example, domain-general theories imply potential resource competition across conditions, impacting efficiency. Conversely, domain-specific theories suggest the brain...

  Substantial practice often leads to efficient and automatic behaviors, a phenomenon commonly referred to as automaticity. Understanding how this is achieved in the brain has been a central topic in psychology. Previous researchers have proposed that practice-induced automaticity involves a shift from implementing rules to using the memory. For example, when first learning the addition algorithm, solving 7+7+7+7 requires step-by-step addition, following the rule; with practice, one may recognize the pattern that four 7s equal 28, and performance begins to rely on memory of this pattern. While the concept of strategy shifting is well-established, when and how the shift occurs has remained unclear. Leveraging advanced computational modeling and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques, we proposed a new account that integrates decision-making into this process. We designed an engaging avatar gear selection task in which participants learned two task sequences an...