An electrophysiological signature for proactive interference resolution in working memory

Mechanisms and neuronal networks involved in reactive and proactive cognitive control of interference in working memory

“…The interference-related MFN, reported by Tays et al (2008), and the fronto-central N2 effect reported by Du et al (2008) suggest an involvement of the ACC, because for both potentials a source in the ACC was reported. In contrast, fMRI studies with their high spatial resolution did not suggest a direct involvement of the ACC in interference detection or resolution.…”

“…Therefore, the lure carries a high familiarity, but subjects are required to respond negatively. Du et al (2008) reported a reduced fronto-central N2 around 300 ms after presentation of the lure, when compared to the negative probes. Positive probes elicited the smallest amplitudes.…”

“…Du et al (2008) used an item recognition task with a directed forgetting procedure as depicted in Fig. 3b.…”

“…Positive probes elicited the smallest amplitudes. Because no differences between negative probes and lures were obtained in the P3 waveform, results were interpreted in the framework of familiarity-inhibition models as indicative of an early mechanism of reactive interference control (Du et al, 2008). The fronto-central N2 component is generally regarded to reflect increased cognitive demand.…”

“…The differences between the studies of Du et al (2008) and Zhang et al (2010) may be interpreted at least partially as a consequence of the different manipulations to induce interference in working memory (intra-trial interference in a directed forgetting manipulation versus recent negative probes). In contrast, the studies of Tays and co-workers (2008) as well as Zhang and co-workers (2010) both used the recent negative task.…”