To Bet or Not to Bet? The Error Negativity or Error-related Negativity Associated with Risk-taking Choices

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 684-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongjun Yu ◽  
Xiaolin Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Response Selection ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Source Analysis ◽  
Dipole Source ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Potential Negative Consequence

The functional significance of error-related negativity (Ne/ERN), which occurs at approximately the same time as erroneous responses, has been investigated extensively using reaction time (RT) tasks. The error detection theory assumes that the Ne/ERN reflects the mismatch detected by comparing representations of the intended and the actually performed actions. The conflict monitoring theory asserts that the Ne/ERN reflects the detection of response conflict between intended and actually performed actions during response selection. In this study, we employed a gambling task in which participants were required to choose whether they would take part in betting in each trial and they were presented with gain or loss feedback in both the “to bet” and the “not to bet” trials. The response-locked ERP magnitudes were more negative for “to bet” than for “not to bet” choices for both large and small stakes and were more negative for choices involving large rather than small stakes. Dipole source analysis localized the ERP responses to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). These findings suggest that the ACC signals the riskiness of choices and may function as an early warning system that alerts the brain to prepare for the potential negative consequence associated with a risky action.

Preserving Integrity in the Face of Performance Threat

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 1455-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Legault ◽  
Timour Al-Khindi ◽  
Michael Inzlicht
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Error Monitoring ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Threatening Information ◽  
Electrophysiological Responses ◽  
The Face ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Self-affirmation produces large effects: Even a simple reminder of one’s core values reduces defensiveness against threatening information. But how, exactly, does self-affirmation work? We explored this question by examining the impact of self-affirmation on neurophysiological responses to threatening events. We hypothesized that because self-affirmation increases openness to threat and enhances approachability of unfavorable feedback, it should augment attention and emotional receptivity to performance errors. We further hypothesized that this augmentation could be assessed directly, at the level of the brain. We measured self-affirmed and nonaffirmed participants’ electrophysiological responses to making errors on a task. As we anticipated, self-affirmation elicited greater error responsiveness than did nonaffirmation, as indexed by the error-related negativity, a neural signal of error monitoring. Self-affirmed participants also performed better on the task than did nonaffirmed participants. We offer novel brain evidence that self-affirmation increases openness to threat and discuss the role of error detection in the link between self-affirmation and performance.

scholarly journals When Heuristics Clash with Parsing Routines: ERP Evidence for Conflict Monitoring in Sentence Perception

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1181-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke van Herten ◽  
Dorothee J. Chwilla ◽  
Herman H. J. Kolk
Keyword(s):  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
N400 Effect ◽  
Word Meanings ◽  
Late Positivity ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Monitoring Process ◽  
Outcome Monitoring

Monitoring refers to a process of quality control designed to optimize behavioral outcome. Monitoring for action errors manifests itself in an error-related negativity in event-related potential (ERP) studies and in an increase in activity of the anterior cingulate in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Here we report evidence for a monitoring process in perception, in particular, language perception, manifesting itself in a late positivity in the ERP. This late positivity, the P600, appears to be triggered by a conflict between two interpretations, one delivered by the standard syntactic algorithm and one by a plausibility heuristic which combines individual word meanings in the most plausible way. To resolve this conflict, we propose that the brain reanalyzes the memory trace of the perceptual input to check for the possibility of a processing error. Thus, as in Experiment 1, when the reader is presented with semantically anomalous sentences such as, “The fox that shot the poacher…,” full syntactic analysis indicates a semantic anomaly, whereas the word-based heuristic leads to a plausible interpretation, that of a poacher shooting a fox. That readers actually pursue such a word-based analysis is indicated by the fact that the usual ERP index of semantic anomaly, the so-called N400 effect, was absent in this case. A P600 effect appeared instead. In Experiment 2, we found that even when the word-based heuristic indicated that only part of the sentence was plausible (e.g., “…that the elephants pruned the trees”), a P600 effect was observed and the N400 effect of semantic anomaly was absent. It thus seems that the plausibility of part of the sentence (e.g., that of pruning trees) was sufficient to create a conflict with the implausible meaning of the sentence as a whole, giving rise to a monitoring response.

External Behavior Monitoring Mirrors Internal Behavior Monitoring

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan T. Bates ◽  
Tina P. Patel ◽  
Peter F. Liddle
Keyword(s):  
Observational Learning ◽  
Error Detection ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Action Execution ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Behavior Monitoring ◽  
External Behavior ◽  
The Brain

Abstract: The discovery of mirror neurons in monkeys has reshaped thinking about how the brain processes observed actions. There is growing evidence that these neurons, which show similar firing patterns for action execution and observation, also exist in humans. Many parts of the motor system required to perform a specific action are activated during the observation of the same action. We hypothesized that behavior monitoring that occurs during action execution is mirrored during action observation. To test this, we measured error negativity/error-related negativity (Ne/ERN) while participants performed and observed a Go/NoGo task. The Ne/ERN is an event-related potential that is thought to reflect an error detection process in the brain. In addition to finding an Ne/ERN for performed errors, we found that an Ne/ERN was also generated for observed errors. The Ne/ERN for observed errors may reflect a system that plays a key role in imitation and observational learning.

scholarly journals Error Negativity Does Not Reflect Conflict: A Reappraisal of Conflict Monitoring and Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activity

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1637-1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borís Burle ◽  
Clémence Roger ◽  
Sonia Allain ◽  
Franck Vidal ◽  
Thierry Hasbroucq
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
On Line ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
Temporal Overlap

Our ability to detect and correct errors is essential for our adaptive behavior. The conflict-loop theory states that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a key role in detecting the need to increase control through conflict monitoring. Such monitoring is assumed to manifest itself in an electroencephalographic (EEG) component, the “error negativity” (Ne or “error-related negativity” [ERN]). We have directly tested the hypothesis that the ACC monitors conflict through simulation and experimental studies. Both the simulated and EEG traces were sorted, on a trial-by-trial basis, as a function of the degree of conflict, measured as the temporal overlap between incorrect and correct response activations. The simulations clearly show that conflict increases as temporal overlap between response activation increases, whereas the experimental results demonstrate that the amplitude of the Ne decreases as temporal overlap increases, suggesting that the ACC does not monitor conflict. At a functional level, the results show that the duration of the Ne depends on the time needed to correct (partial) errors, revealing an “on-line” modulation of control on a very short time scale.

scholarly journals Conflict monitoring, error detection, and inhibition: behavioural and electrophysiological features

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Egeto
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Error Monitoring ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Error Awareness ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Error Positivity ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Inhibition Index

Event-related potentials of performance monitoring, including N2 (conflict monitoring), error-related negativity and error positivity (ERN and Pe; error monitoring), and P3 (inhibition) have been studied. However, conflict monitoring lacks a behavioural measure, and the functional significance of ERN, Pe, and P3 are debated. To address these issues, a behavioural measure of conflict monitoring was tested by subtracting the reaction time (RT) of a simple from a choice RT task to isolate conflict monitoring; the functions of error monitoring and inhibition were examined. The RT difference correlated with the N2 area (longer conflict monitoring related to a larger N2). ERN and Pe areas were negatively and positively correlated with errors, respectively. P3 magnitude and onset were correlated with an inhibition index. The new behavioural measure provides an accessible way to study conflict monitoring. Theories of conflict monitoring for ERN, error awareness for Pe, and inhibition for P3 were replicated and extended.

scholarly journals Backtracking during navigation is correlated with enhanced anterior cingulate activity and suppression of alpha oscillations and the ‘default-mode’ network

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1908) ◽  
pp. 20191016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir-Homayoun Javadi ◽  
Eva Zita Patai ◽  
Eugenia Marin-Garcia ◽  
Aaron Margois ◽  
Heng-Ru M. Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Current Path ◽  
Desert Island ◽  
Neural Underpinnings ◽  
The Brain

Successful navigation can require realizing the current path choice was a mistake and the best strategy is to retreat along the recent path: ‘back-track’. Despite the wealth of studies on the neural correlates of navigation little is known about backtracking. To explore the neural underpinnings of backtracking we tested humans during functional magnetic resonance imaging on their ability to navigate to a set of goal locations in a virtual desert island riven by lava which constrained the paths that could be taken. We found that on a subset of trials, participants spontaneously chose to backtrack and that the majority of these choices were optimal. During backtracking, activity increased in frontal regions and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, while activity was suppressed in regions associated with the core default-mode network. Using the same task, magnetoencephalography and a separate group of participants, we found that power in the alpha band was significantly decreased immediately prior to such backtracking events. These results highlight the importance for navigation of brain networks previously identified in processing internally-generated errors and that such error-detection responses may involve shifting the brain from default-mode states to aid successful spatial orientation.

Localizing evoked cortical activity associated with balance reactions: does the anterior cingulate play a role?

2014 ◽  
Vol 111 (12) ◽  
pp. 2634-2643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Marlin ◽  
George Mochizuki ◽  
William R. Staines ◽  
William E. McIlroy
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Distributed Network ◽  
Subsequent Work ◽  
Localized Source ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Mean

The ability to correct balance disturbances is essential for the maintenance of upright stability. Although information about how the central nervous system controls balance reactions in humans remains limited, recent literature highlights a potentially important role for the cerebral cortex. The objective of this study was to determine the neural source of the well-reported balance-evoked N1 response. It was hypothesized that the N1 is associated with an “error-detection” event in response to the induced perturbation and therefore may be associated with activity within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The localized source of the N1 evoked by perturbations to standing balance was compared, within each participant, to the location of an error-related negativity (ERN) known to occur within the ACC while performing a flanker task. In contrast to the main hypotheses, the results revealed that the location of the N1 was not within the ACC. The mean Talairach coordinates for the ERN were (6.47, −4.41, 41.17) mm, corresponding to the cingulate gyrus [Brodmann area (BA) 24], as expected. However, coordinates for the N1 dipole were (5.74, −11.81, 53.73) mm, corresponding to the medial frontal gyrus (BA 6), specifically the supplementary motor area. This may suggest the N1 is linked to the planning and execution of elements of the evoked balance reactions rather than being associated with error or event detection. Alternatively, it is possible that the N1 is associated with variation in the cortical representation due to task-specific differences in the activation of a distributed network of error-related processing. Subsequent work should focus on disentangling these two possible explanations as they relate to the cortical processing linked to reactive balance control.

The Neural Basis of Error Detection: Conflict Monitoring and the Error-Related Negativity.

2004 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 931-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Yeung ◽  
Matthew M. Botvinick ◽  
Jonathan D. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Error Related Negativity

Intracerebral Error-Related Negativity in a Simple Go/NoGo Task

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Brázdil ◽  
Robert Roman ◽  
Pavel Daniel ◽  
Ivan Rektor
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Intractable Epilepsy ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Error Processing ◽  
Supramarginal Gyrus ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Depth Electrodes ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Temporal Neocortex

Abstract: Performance monitoring represents a critical executive function of the human brain. In an effort to identify its anatomical and physiological aspects, a negative component of event-related potentials (ERPs), which occurs only on incorrect trials, has been used in the extensive investigation of error processing. This component has been termed “error-negativity” (Ne) or error-related negativity (ERN) and has been interpreted as a correlate of error detection. The aim of the present intracerebral ERP study was to contribute knowledge of the sources of the Ne/ERN, with a particular focus on the involvement of a frontomedian wall (FMW) in the genesis of this negativity. Seven patients with intractable epilepsy participated in the study. Depth electrodes were implanted to localize the seizure origin prior to surgical treatment. A total of 574 sites in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes were investigated. A simple Go/NoGo task was performed and EEG epochs with correct and erroneous motor responses were averaged independently using the response as the trigger. Ne/ERN was generated in multiple cortical structures, with the most consistent involvement being that of the FMW structures. Ne/ERN generators were revealed there in both the rostral and caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), but also in the pre-SMA and in the parts of the medial frontal gyrus adjacent to the ACC. Different timing of activations between the rostral and caudal anterior cingulate Ne/ERN sources was observed in this study. Other neural sources of the Ne/ERN were found in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, in the orbitofrontal cortex, in the lateral temporal neocortex, and in one isolated case in the supramarginal gyrus. Our findings support the key role of the FMW in the genesis of Ne/ERN. At the same time, our findings suggest a different functional significance for the rostral and caudal ACC involvement in error processing. In addition to the FMW, the other prefrontal cortical sites, the lateral temporal neocortex, and the supramarginal gyrus seem to represent integral components of the brain's error monitoring system.

scholarly journals Conflict monitoring, error detection, and inhibition: behavioural and electrophysiological features

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Egeto
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Error Monitoring ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Error Awareness ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Error Positivity ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Inhibition Index

Event-related potentials of performance monitoring, including N2 (conflict monitoring), error-related negativity and error positivity (ERN and Pe; error monitoring), and P3 (inhibition) have been studied. However, conflict monitoring lacks a behavioural measure, and the functional significance of ERN, Pe, and P3 are debated. To address these issues, a behavioural measure of conflict monitoring was tested by subtracting the reaction time (RT) of a simple from a choice RT task to isolate conflict monitoring; the functions of error monitoring and inhibition were examined. The RT difference correlated with the N2 area (longer conflict monitoring related to a larger N2). ERN and Pe areas were negatively and positively correlated with errors, respectively. P3 magnitude and onset were correlated with an inhibition index. The new behavioural measure provides an accessible way to study conflict monitoring. Theories of conflict monitoring for ERN, error awareness for Pe, and inhibition for P3 were replicated and extended.

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