The Neural Basis of Error Detection: Conflict Monitoring and the Error-Related Negativity.

Abstract

According to a recent theory, anterior cingulate cortex is sensitive to response conflict, the coactivation of mutually incompatible responses. The present research develops this theory to provide a new account of the error-related negativity (ERN), a scalp potential observed following errors. Connectionist simulations of response conflict in an attentional task demonstrated that the ERN--its timing and sensitivity to task parameters--can be explained in terms of the conflict theory. A new experiment confirmed predictions of this theory regarding the ERN and a second scalp potential, the N2, that is proposed to reflect conflict monitoring on correct response trials. Further analysis of the simulation data indicated that errors can be detected reliably on the basis of post-error conflict. It is concluded that the ERN can be explained in terms of response conflict and that monitoring for conflict may provide a simple mechanism for detecting errors.

Aerobic fitness and cognitive development: Event-related brain potential and task performance indices of executive control in preadolescent children.

“…Matching involved selecting individual correct trials for each participant, without replacement, that matched the RT of each error trial for that individual. Because error trials are typically associated with shorter RT than correct trials (Falkenstein, Hoormann, & Hohnsbein, 2001;Mathewson et al, 2005;Yeung et al, 2004), this procedure removes artifacts that may exist in the timing of processing due to differences in response latency for correct and error trials and results in an equal number of matched-correct trials and error trials for each individual to compare differences across accuracy conditions. Task performance.…”

“…Each participant's average RT for correct trials following error trials was compared to his or her average RT for correct trials following matched-correct trials in statistical analyses to provide a measure of post-error response slowing, which is a behavioral indicator of increased recruitment and implementation of cognitive control (Gehring et al, 1993;Kerns et al, 2004). Due to the consistent finding that average RT on error trials is shorter than average RT on correct trials (Mathewson et al, 2005;Yeung et al, 2004), this comparison accounts for any effects of slowing that are present simply because responses on error trials generally tend to be faster than responses on correct trials.…”

“…Specifically, both studies revealed a reduction in the evaluative signal (i.e., decreased ERN amplitude) necessary to trigger top-down control of action monitoring processes. The ERN has been related to either the detection of errors during task performance (Gehring et al, 1993;Scheffers, Coles, Bernstein, Gehring, & Donchin, 1996) or more generally to the detection of response conflict (Botvinick, Braver, Barch, Carter, & Cohen, 2001;Yeung et al, 2004), which can be elicited by commission errors. Thus, although debate remains as to the specific functional significance of the ERN, current theories hold that the ERN is a critical early index of action-monitoring processes used to signal for adjustments in control to improve task performance.…”

“…Response-locked ERPs, such as the error-related negativity (ERN-Gehring, Goss, Coles, Meyer, & Donchin, 1993;or N e -Falkenstein, Hohnsbein, Hoormann, & Blanke, 1991) and error positivity (P e ; Falkenstein, Hohnsbein, Hoormann, & Blanke, 1990) reflect downstream aspects of response selection related to conflict detection (ERN; Yeung, Cohen, & Botvinick, 2004) and attentional resource allocation toward (Mathewson, Dywan, & Segalowitz, 2005) or evaluation of (Davies, Segalowitz, Dywan, & Pailing, 2001;Falkenstein et al, 1990) error commission (P e ). These latter components are further thought to reflect task-related learning involved in the modulation of cognitive control that underlies alterations in behavioral responses during subsequent environmental interaction Yeung et al, 2004).…”

“…These latter components are further thought to reflect task-related learning involved in the modulation of cognitive control that underlies alterations in behavioral responses during subsequent environmental interaction Yeung et al, 2004). Recently, the developmental literature has grown in its reports on the developmental trajectory of various aspects of cognition and the underlying ERP componentry involved in such operations (e.g., Kim, Iwaki, Imashioya, Uno, & Fujita, 2007; Ridderinkhof & van der Molen, 1995).…”