Miyake revisited: The development of an open-source cognitive control test battery

Cognitive control is a prerequisite for achieving goals in daily life. Miyake et al. (2000) distinguished three separable but correlated cognitive control functions in young adults: inhibition, shifting, and updating. This three-factor model was later adapted to a bi-factor model with a common cognitive control factor and separate updating and shifting factors. Over the years, these models have been replicated in various young adult samples. However, other studies have failed to confirm these models. Additionally, the variety of different tasks used in these studies hampers replication of the underlying factor structure of cognitive control. It becomes clear that this field would benefit from a uniform, easily accessible, open-source cognitive control test battery with a validated underlying factor structure and designed for the widest possible audience. For this reason, we developed a freely available cognitive control test battery comprising nine behavioral tasks measuring inhibition, shifting and updating. The underlying factor structure of this test battery was assessed in a group of 165 young adults. CFA was used to test the one-factor model with a common cognitive control function, the three-factor model with separate but correlated cognitive control functions, and the bi-factor model. Our findings supported the three-factor model with correlated cognitive control functions as the best fitting model. This test battery can lead to more uniformity in the field. In addition, we offer a critical look on the field and recommendations for future use and adaptations of the test battery.