title: ERP correlates of the conflict level in the multi-response Stroop task.
abstract: This EEG study (N=33) examined event-related potentials associated with conflict between activated responses in the Stroop task, in order to examine the conflict monitoring theory of cognitive control, which predicts the strength of exerted control to be proportional to the detected level of conflict. However, existing research manipulated the sole presence/absence of conflict, but not its exact level. Here, by using a modified color-word task that allowed multiple correct responses for target colors, as well as multiple incorrect responses for distractor words, we manipulated the level of conflict among activated responses (and not only its presence). We expected that a larger number of activated incorrect responses (i.e., a presumably higher conflict) would entail more pronounced conflict-related potentials. Indeed, two components of the N450 wave, parietal negativity and medial frontal negativity, were more negatively deflected when conflict was higher, than when it was lower, visibly responding to the level of conflict. Slow potential weakly responded to the sheer presence of conflict, but not to its level. These results can be plausibly explained by the conflict monitoring theory with a modified conflict evaluation formula, whereas they are at odds with several alternative theories of cognitive control.
authors: Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: adam.chuderski@gmail.com.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Chuderski
authors: Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Senderecka
authors: Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Patrycja
authors: P
authors: Kałamała
authors: Institute of Computer Science and Computational Mathematics, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Łojasiewicza 6, 30-348 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Bartłomiej
authors: B
authors: Kroczek
authors: Institute of Computer Science and Computational Mathematics, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Łojasiewicza 6, 30-348 Krakow, Poland.
authors: Michał
authors: M
authors: Ociepka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D057190:Stroop Test
keywords: Cognitive control; Conflict monitoring; N450; Slow potential; Stroop task