Task Switching
Where it lands decides the rule
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What is the Task Switching?
Task Switching is a family of experiments in which people move back and forth between two or more simple tasks, each with its own rule. A classic version shows a number and a letter together, and where the pair appears tells you which question to answer: one about the number, or one about the letter. The same stimulus needs a different response depending on the rule in force.
Researchers use task switching to study cognitive flexibility. The main measure is the switch cost: people are usually slower and make more errors on trials where the task changes than on trials where it repeats. The Neuroptimize Task Switching game follows this design closely. A number and letter pair lands in part of a card, and the part it lands in decides whether you judge the number or the letter.
How to play the Task Switching
- The card is split into a top half and a bottom half. Each round, a pair such as "4E" appears in one of them.
- If the pair is in the top half, answer "Is the number even?". If it is in the bottom half, answer "Is the letter a vowel?". Tap Yes or No, or use the left and right arrow keys (N and Y, or F and J, also work).
- A wrong answer breaks your combo and the next pair appears straight away. You have 50 seconds, and the results show your average reaction time and, when there are enough trials, your switch cost in milliseconds.
- As the level rises the pair jumps between halves more often. From level 10 the letter and number can come in either order, such as "E4".
- From level 16 the card has four quadrants with four rules: even number (top left), vowel (top right), number above 5 (bottom left) and letter before M (bottom right).
- Below level 22 the current question is spelled out in a coloured banner. From level 22 the banner only says "Answer the rule for where it appears", so you rely on the position and the small labels in each section.
Strategies and tips
Look at the position first
Where the pair lands is the rule, so register the half or quadrant before you read the characters. If you read the pair first, you may start answering the wrong question.
Only read the relevant character
The top half only cares about the number and the bottom half only about the letter. Train yourself to ignore the other character, especially from level 10 when the order of the pair is mixed.
Memorise the four-rule map
At level 16 and above, the rules are fixed to corners: numbers on the left for even and above 5, letters on the right for vowel and before M. Knowing the layout by heart matters most from level 22, when the question banner disappears.
Keep the letter rules crisp
The vowels are A, E, I, O and U, and the game never uses Y or M, so there are no borderline letters. For "before M", think of A to L as yes.
Expect a switch, not a repeat
At higher levels most trials change region, so assume the rule may have changed on every pair. Treating each trial as fresh is steadier than coasting on the last answer.
The science behind the Task Switching
Task switching is the shifting of attention between tasks that follow different rules. Responses on trials where the task changes are usually slower and less accurate than on trials where it repeats. This difference, known as the switch cost, is used as a measure of cognitive flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is task switching in psychology?
Task switching refers to shifting attention and responses between tasks that follow different rules. In experiments, people are cued to perform one of two or more simple judgements on each trial. Researchers compare performance on switch trials with performance on repeat trials.
What is a switch cost?
A switch cost is the extra time, and often the extra errors, on trials where the task changes compared with trials where it stays the same. It is the standard measure in task switching research. Neuroptimize shows your own switch cost at the end of a session when there are enough of both trial types.
Why does switching between rules feel so slow?
When the rule changes, the previous rule is still active for a moment and has to be set aside before the new one can be applied. Even with a clear cue, most people show some slowing on switch trials. The effect is usually smaller with a predictable cue and more preparation time.
Is the Task Switching game free?
Yes, it is on the free plan. Free players unlock it by earning XP until their player level reaches 5, and Pro members can play it straight away.