The Basic Mechanisms of Cognitive Control: From Source Conflict to Control Failure

Abstract

Cognitive control refers to our ability to focus on task-relevant information while ignoring irrelevant distractors. When participants are asked to complete a simple task (such as color naming in the classic color-word Stroop task), an alternative, automatic process can be incredibly difficult to suppress, directly interfering with performance. In this workshop, we will explore the core mechanisms underlying cognitive control. We will dissect the primary conflicts that arise during these tasks (spoiler: there is more than just one!) and examine how easily control can slip—even when the distracting, task-irrelevant process is highly complex, yet so automated that it remains impossible to ignore.

Short bio

Dr. Ronen Hershman is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck. His research lies at the intersection of cognitive psychology and neuroscience, focusing on the intricate relationships between cognitive workload, cognitive control, and psychophysiological markers. Specifically, he investigates how pupillary dynamics (pupil dilation) and eye-movement behaviors reflect underlying cognitive regulation under varying task conditions. A key objective of his work is establishing robust, innovative methodologies to effectively study cognitive profiles in preverbal populations (e.g., infants) and non-verbal clinical cohorts (e.g., neurological patients).