title: Strategic control and medial frontal negativity: beyond errors and response conflict.
abstract: Errors in timed choice tasks typically produce an error-related negativity (ERN) in the event-related potential (ERP). The error specificity of the ERN has been challenged by studies showing a correct response negativity (CRN). Forty-five participants engaged in a flanker task in which both compatibility between flankers and target and the probability of compatible flankers were manipulated. Correct responses elicited a CRN, the amplitude of which increased with the degree of mismatch between the presence of conflict and conflict probability, even on low-conflict (compatible) trials. The fronto-central N2 component was larger on high-conflict (incompatible) correct response trials. However, in contrast to some recent accounts, this N2 was largest for highly probable stimuli. These findings suggest revision to models of the effects of conflict on response-related negativity to account for strategic adjustments made in preparation for the response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Bartholow
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dickter
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabiani
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gratton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011932:Reading