title: Why do we make mistakes? Neurocognitive processes during the preparation-perception-action cycle and error-detection.
abstract: The event-related potential (ERP) literature described two error-related brain activities: the error-related negativity (Ne/ERN) and the error positivity (Pe), peaking immediately after the erroneous response. ERP studies on error processing adopted a response-locked approach, thus, the question about the activities preceding the error is still open. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the activities preceding the false alarms (FA) are different from those occurring in the correct (responded or inhibited) trials. To this aim, we studied a sample of 36 Go/No-go performers, adopting a stimulus-locked segmentation also including the pre-motor brain activities. Present results showed that neither pre-stimulus nor perceptual activities explain why we commit FA. In contrast, we observed condition-related differences in two pre-response components: the fronto-central N2 and the prefrontal positivity (pP), respectively peaking at 250 ms and 310 ms after the stimulus onset. The N2 amplitude of FA was identical to that recorded in No-go trials, and larger than Hits. Because the new findings challenge the previous interpretations on the N2, a new perspective is discussed. On the other hand, the pP in the FA trials was larger than No-go and smaller than Go, suggesting an erroneous processing at the stimulus-response mapping level: because this stage triggers the response execution, we concluded that the neural processes underlying the pP were mainly responsible for the subsequent error commission. Finally, sLORETA source analyses of the post-error potentials extended previous findings indicating, for the first time in the ERP literature, the right anterior insula as Pe generator.
authors: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 15 Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", 78 Via dei Marsi, 00185, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: rinaldo.perri@uniroma1.it.
authors: Rinaldo Livio
authors: RL
authors: Perri
authors: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 15 Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Berchicci
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", 78 Via dei Marsi, 00185, Rome, Italy; Unit of Neuropsychology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 306 Via Ardeatina, 00179 Rome, Italy.
authors: Giuliana
authors: G
authors: Lucci
authors: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 15 Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135, Rome, Italy; Unit of Neuropsychology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 306 Via Ardeatina, 00179 Rome, Italy.
authors: Donatella
authors: D
authors: Spinelli
authors: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 15 Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 00135, Rome, Italy; Unit of Neuropsychology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 306 Via Ardeatina, 00179 Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Di Russo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Error positivity (Pe); Error-related negativity (Ne/ERN); Event Related Potentials (ERPs); False Alarms (FA); Prefrontal positivity (pP); sLORETA