Does the error negativity reflect response conflict strength? Evidence from a Simon task

Abstract

The error (-related) negativity (Ne or ERN) has been related to detecting the mismatch between incorrectly executed and appropriate responses or, alternatively, to the degree of conflict between different response alternatives. In this study different levels of response conflict were generated by manipulating task difficulty in a Simon task. According to the product of incorrect and subsequent correct EMG activation, the amount of conflict in error trials was indeed larger for the easy than for the hard condition. In contrast, Ne/ERN amplitudes did not differ between difficulty conditions, nor was the amount of conflict mirrored by Ne/ERN amplitude. Therefore, the present data are at variance with the hypothesis that the Ne/ERN reflects the degree of response conflict.

Modulation of the error‐related negativity by response conflict

“…The present experiment replicated the common finding that RTs are shorter in error trials than in correct trials (e.g., Falkenstein, 2004;Masaki et al, 2007). This suggests that errors are due to premature responding.…”

“…These studies have in common that the degree of response conflict was defined by peripheral measures such as electromyography (EMG; Burle et al, 2005;Masaki et al, 2007) or button press force (Carbonnell & Falkenstein, 2006).…”

Individual differences and developmental change in the ERN response: implications for models of ACC function

“…Thus, the motor response interference deWned by the task cannot be a sole determiner. This is consistent with other types of data indicating that the computational model itself does not pass some basic empirical tests (Burle, Roger, Allain, Vidal, & Hasbroucq, 2008;Masaki, Falkenstein, Sturmer, Pinkpank, & Sommer, 2007;Masaki & Segalowitz, 2004).…”

Performance monitoring in obsessive–compulsive undergraduates: Effects of task difficulty

“…Previous studies suggest that the ERN and CRN are not modulated error awareness (Endrass et al, 2007;Nieuwenhuis et al, 2001). Results regarding the influence of error rates are mixed and some demonstrated larger ERNs associated with lower error rates (Holroyd & Coles, 2002;Pailing & Segalowitz, 2004a) and others reported no relationship between error-rate and ERN (Falkenstein, Hoormann, Christ, & Hohnsbein, 2000;Masaki, Falkenstein, Sturmer, Pinkpank, & Sommer, 2007). In our study the reported difficulty effects on ERN and CRN were replicated when controlling for differences in error rates 3 .…”