Advantage of the go/no-go task over the yes/no lexical decision task: ERP indexes of parameters in the diffusion model

Abstract

Previous research findings supporting the advantages of the go/no-go choice over the yes/no choice in lexical decision task (LDT) have suggested that the go/no-go choice might require less cognitive resources in the non-decisional processes. This study aims to test such an idea using the event-related potential method. In this study, the tasks (yes/no LDT and go/no-go LDT) and word frequency (high and low) were manipulated, and the difference between the go/no-go choice and yes/no choice were examined with BP, pN, pN1, P200, N400, and P3 components that were assumed to be closely related with the various parameters in the diffusion model. The results showed that BP, pN and pN1 amplitudes reflecting the preparation stage were not differently affected by word frequency and the task type. However, ERPs after stimulus onset showed differences. The P200 amplitudes were smaller in the go/no-go task than in the yes/no task only for low-frequency words. N400 and P3 amplitudes were only affected by word frequency. The results suggest that the go/no-go task and the yes/no task differ in sub-lexical processes, which is indicated in the T encoding parameter in the diffusion model. This study is important as it offers the first electrophysiological evidence supporting the assumption in the diffusion model that explains the advantage of the go/no-go choice over the yes/no choice.

Increased Neural Efficiency in Visual Word Recognition: Evidence from Alterations in Event-Related Potentials and Multiscale Entropy

“…The analysis also revealed that the P200 amplitude increased within the first session, and across the three sessions, in bilateral fronto-central electrodes, becoming more positive with learning. We did not expect this component to show change, as the P200 is more typically considered in the context of attentional processing, where increased attention is associated with decreased P200 amplitudes in various task conditions 63,64 . In relation to language, the P200 is related to sublexical processing, such as syllable parsing.…”

“…Conversely, greater P200 amplitudes were found when the colour boundary of a multicoloured word was mismatched from the syllable boundary, suggesting hindered syllable parsing and lexical activation 66 . Based on previous attentional research 63,64 , the increased P200…”

Increased Neural Efficiency in Visual Word Recognition: Evidence from Alterations in Event-Related Potentials and Multiscale Entropy

“…We found that the P200 amplitude increased across and within our three ERP sessions in bilateral fronto-central electrodes, becoming more positive with prolonged task performance. The P200 is often considered a marker of attentional processing, with decreased amplitudes being associated with increases in attention [ 27 , 28 ]. In relation to language, the P200 is related to sublexical processing, such as syllable parsing.…”

“…In relation to language, the P200 is related to sublexical processing, such as syllable parsing. Studies have found an inverse relationship between frontal P200 amplitude and the degree of supposed lexical activation that stems from early sublexical/syllable processing [ 28 , 69 , 70 ]. For example, words with higher-frequency initial syllables are associated with weaker P200 amplitudes, compared to words with low-frequency initial syllables, and are assumed to activate more of the lexicon during word recognition [ 69 , 71 ].…”

“…The P200 is an early positive component, peaking between 150 and 300 ms in frontal and central electrodes. The P200 is often considered in the context of attentional processing, where increased attention is associated with decreased P200 amplitudes in various task conditions [ 27 , 28 ].…”