Conflict Adaptation Theory

Conflict adaptation theory or cognitive control adaptation, a popular theory in cognitive science, describes how the brain dynamically adapts when faced with conflicting information, enhancing performance on subsequent tasks. It suggests we strategically shift our attention away from distracting or irrelevant stimuli when we experience conflict. This happens when the prefrontal cortex (PFC) increases cognitive control to overcome (be less susceptible to) conflict—when conflicting information is being simultaneously processed by the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Also see Conflict Monitoring Theory and Conflict Processing.