Which term refers to the ability to switch between tasks or mental sets?

Which term refers to the ability to switch between tasks or mental sets?

• A. Cognitive flexibility
• B. Inhibitory control
• C. Working memory
• D. Verbal reasoning

Answer: (A)

Switching between tasks or mental sets is cognitive flexibility, the ability to adapt thinking and move from one rule or strategy to another as demands change. This kind of flexibility shows up when you have to abandon one approach and adopt another quickly—for example, changing the way you categorize items as the instructions switch from sorting by color to sorting by shape. Inhibitory control is about stopping automatic responses, working memory is about holding and manipulating information in mind, and verbal reasoning is about using language-based logic. Since the key idea here is the capacity to shift strategies or mental sets, cognitive flexibility is the best fit.

Switching between tasks or mental sets is cognitive flexibility, the ability to adapt thinking and move from one rule or strategy to another as demands change. This kind of flexibility shows up when you have to abandon one approach and adopt another quickly—for example, changing the way you categorize items as the instructions switch from sorting by color to sorting by shape. Inhibitory control is about stopping automatic responses, working memory is about holding and manipulating information in mind, and verbal reasoning is about using language-based logic. Since the key idea here is the capacity to shift strategies or mental sets, cognitive flexibility is the best fit.