Is Self-Related Cognition Resistant to Time-Based Expectancy?

Abstract Individuals adapt to their environments by scheduling cognitive processing capacities selectively the points in time where they are most likely required. This effect is known as time-based expectancy (TBE) and has been demonstrated for several capacities, like perceptual attention, task set activation, or response preparation. However, it argued that self-related cognition (i.e., of information linked oneself) universally prioritized, compared non-self-related system. Consequently, should be resistant temporal TBE, because individuals maintain a constantly high cognition, irrespective its likeliness. We tested this hypothesis task-switching paradigm participants randomly switched between neutral task. The tasks were preceded short long warning interval each trial, duration predicted probabilistically type. found showed TBE but not conclude individual cannot benefit from when to-be-expected activated, due nature.