The Dual Cognitive Mechanisms of Inhibition and Updating: A Model-Based Study

Effective behavior relies on inhibition and updating, two core executive functions essential for goal-directed actions. While emerging evidence suggests that inhibition serves as the fundamental mechanism underlying flexible behavior, its role in updating progresses remains unclear. This study proposes a dual-mechanism model for the relationship between inhibition and updating: The shared components (i.e., inhibition) operate through bottom-up reactive control, supporting the flexible aspects of updating. In contrast, the distinct components (i.e., updating-specific processes) are governed by top-down proactive control, enabling the stable maintenance of information in working memory. To test this framework, we developed an innovative “Reference-back Inhibition Joint” paradigm, combined with a hierarchical drift diffusion model, and conducted two experiments. Experiment 1 examined the shared and distinct cognitive processes of inhibition and updating from the perspective of working memory gating. Experiment 2 further explored the underlying mechanisms by manipulating interstimulus interval (ISI) time bins. The results confirmed our proposal: shared processes (gate opening, substitution) were governed by bottom-up reactive control, while distinct processes (gate closing, updating mode) relied on top-down proactive control. These findings support our proposed of dual cognitive mechanism framework, refine the bifactorial model of executive function, and provide profound insights into the nature of executive functions.