Modulation of the error-related negativity by induction of short-term negative affect.
The present study investigates whether performance monitoring and its electrophysiological indices in a choice reaction time task are modulated by affective information presented briefly prior to the critical stimuli. A flanker task known to elicit a sufficient number of performance errors was used and prior to each flanker stimulus a neutral, pleasant or unpleasant picture from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) was shown. While behavioral performance to the flanker stimuli was hardly affected by the preceding affective information, the error-related negativity (ERN) of the event-related potential was modulated by affective information: Unpleasant IAPS pictures preceding a performance error led to an increased ERN amplitude compared to trials with neutral and pleasant IAPS pictures. These trial-by-trial modulations of electrophysiological markers of performance monitoring are discussed in terms of the possible influence of affective stimuli on monaminergic neuromodulatory transmitter systems.
Wiswede
Daniel
D
Department of Neuropsychology, Otto-von Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany; Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg, Delmenhorst, Germany.
Münte
Thomas F
TF
Goschke
Thomas
T
Rüsseler
Jascha
J
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult