Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience

Flexible behavior requires adjustments of cognitive control. While the costs of switching between different tasks are well studied, much less is known about the costs of adjusting the level of control allocation within a given task. Here, we develop a model of cognitive control dynamics that assumes adjustment costs arise due to the time needed to change control signals, and that these costs constrain one’s selection of optimal control signals. We empirically test two predictions of the model. We show that control adjustment costs depend on the time allotted to alter control levels, and that optimal control signals are modulated by the expected costs of adjusting levels of cognitive control.