Rationalizing Constraints on the Capacity for Cognitive Control

Humans are remarkably limited in (a) how many control-dependent tasks they can execute simultaneously, and (b) how intensely they can focus on a single task. These limitations are universal assumptions of most theories of cognition. Yet, a rationale for why humans are subject to these constraints remains elusive. This review draws on recent insights from psychology, neuroscience and machine learning, to suggest that constraints on cognitive control may result from a rational adaptation to fundamental computational dilemmas in neural architectures. The reviewed literature implies that limitations in multitasking may result from a tradeoff between learning efficacy and processing efficiency, and that limitations in the intensity of commitment to a single task may reflect a tradeoff between cognitive stability and flexibility.