Human anterior cingulate cortex is activated by negative feedback: evidence from event-related potentials in a guessing task.
It has been controversially discussed whether the error-related negativity (ERN) or error negativity (N(e)), an electrophysiological index of anterior cingulate activation, reflects response conflict or response evaluation subserving error monitoring processes. We investigated event-related potentials (ERPs) in a guessing task which did not induce response conflict. Subjects had to guess which of the four aces of a French card play would be presented next and received feedback at random. We observed a negative ERP deflection in trials following negative feedback which was identified as ERN/N(e). Dipole analysis of scalp potentials indicated sources in the anterior cingulate and left inferior prefrontal cortex. The observation of the ERN/N(e) following negative feedback during guessing suggests that this ERP component mirrors response evaluation processes comparing expected and actual response outcome rather than response conflict.
Ruchsow
Martin
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. martin.ruchsow@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Grothe
Jo
J
Spitzer
Manfred
M
Kiefer
Markus
M
D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance