The modulation of the Ne-like wave on correct responses foreshadows errors.
In reaction time (RT) tasks, event-related potentials (ERPs) reveal a response-locked negative wave when subjects commit errors. This wave, termed "error negativity" (Ne) or "error-related negativity" (ERN), is thought to index response-monitoring processes. With conventional monopolar recordings, this negativity is hardly seen on correct responses, likely overlapped by a large positive wave. Indeed, after Laplacian transformation (a spatial high-pass filter), a small Ne-like wave is unmasked. Recently, it has been shown that the positivity on monopolar recordings was larger for correct responses preceding an error than for correct responses preceding a correct trial. After Laplacian transformation, it appears that this effect is due, at least in part, to a decrease of the Ne-like wave on correct responses preceding an error. This result indicates that, as the Ne on errors, the Ne-like wave on correct responses is sensitive to performance and hence is likely related to response-monitoring processes.
Allain
Sonia
S
Institut de Médecine Navale du Service de Santé des Armées, BP 610, 83800 Toulon Naval, France. sonia.allain@up.univ-mrs.fr
Carbonnell
Laurence
L
Falkenstein
Michael
M
Burle
Borís
B
Vidal
Franck
F
D000328:Adult; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*