On Task: How Our Brain Gets Things Done

345 Pages·2020·18.642 MB·English

by  David Badre

On Task

On Task
   
How Our Brain Gets Things Done
David Badre
PRINCE TON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCE TON AND OXFORD
Copyright © 2020 by Prince ton University Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Badre, David, author.
Title: On task : how our brain gets things done / David Badre.
Description: Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2020] | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020032349 | ISBN 9780691175553 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780691212340 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Cognitive neuroscience. | Executive functions (Neuropsychology) |
Developmental psychology. | Decision making.
Classification: LCC QP360.5 .B35 2020 | DDC 612.8/233—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020032349
British Library Cataloging- in- Publication Data is available
Editorial: Hallie Stebbins and Kristen Hop
Production Editorial: Ali Parrington
Jacket/Cover Design: Layla Mac Rory
Production: Jacqueline Poirier
Publicity: Sara Henning- Stout and Katie Lewis
Copyeditor: Barbara Liguori
This book has been composed in Arno
Printed on acid- free paper. ∞
Printed in the United States of Amer i ca
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
To my family.

contents
  
Acknowl edgments ix
Chapter 1
What Lies in the Gap between Knowledge and Action? 1
Chapter 2
The Origins of Human Cognitive Control 32
Chapter 3
The Stability- Flexibility Dilemma 66
Chapter 4
Hierarchies in the Head 98
Chapter 5
The Tao of Multitasking 130
Chapter 6
Stopping 157
Chapter 7
The Costs and Benefits of Control 186
Chapter 8
The Information Retrieval Prob lem 221
Chapter 9
Cognitive Control over Lifespan 251
Chapter 10
Postscript: Getting Things Done That Matter 293
Notes 301
Index 323
vii

acknowledgments
  
Writing this book has been a new and fulfilling experience for me as a
scholar and as a scientist. However, a proj ect of this scope is never r eally
completed by oneself. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the many p eople
who have contributed both directly and indirectly to its completion.
First, I wish to thank the entire team from Prince ton University Press.
At every step, from editing to production, the book improved from its
rough first draft. I’d like to acknowledge Hallie Stebbins, in par tic u lar,
who stepped in as editor of the book and masterfully shepherded a nov-
ice author through the pro cess. Thanks are also due to Alison Kalett,
who I am grateful persuaded me to start this adventure in the first place.
Next, I wish to acknowledge my former mentors, John Jonides, Anthony
Wagner, and Mark D’Esposito; my current and former lab members;
my close long- time collaborator Michael Frank; my colleagues Adam
Aron and Roshan Cools, who gave me encouraging feedback on early
chapter drafts; and many other colleagues and collaborators too numer-
ous to mention by name. Th ese scientists have s haped my thinking about
cognitive control over the years, and their ideas and contributions appear
in vario us ways throughout this book. Fin ally, I give thanks to my f amily.
To my parents, who have always been supportive of my pursuits and
who instilled in me from an early age the love of scholarship and curiosity
that led me to be a scientist. And to my wife and two boys, who have
helped me in countless ways, from reading multiple versions of the text
to simply offering their love, confidence, inspiration, and support. For
these, I am deeply grateful. Thank you.
ix