Electrophysiological correlates of confidence differ across correct and erroneous perceptual decisions

Every decision we make is accompanied by an estimate of the likelihood that our decision is accurate or appropriate. This likelihood estimate is termed our degree of decision confidence. Recent work has uncovered event-related potential (ERP) correlates of confidence both during decision formation and after a decision has been made. However, the interpretation of these findings is complicated by methodological issues related to ERP amplitude measurement that are prevalent across existing studies. To more accurately characterise the neural correlates of confidence, we presented participants with a difficult perceptual decision task that elicited a broad range of confidence ratings. We identified a frontal ERP component within an onset prior to the behavioural response, which exhibited more positive-going amplitudes in trials with higher confidence ratings. This frontal effect also biased measures of the centro-parietal positivity (CPP) component at parietal electrodes via volume conduction. Amplitudes of the error positivity (Pe) component that followed each decision were negatively associated with confidence for trials with decision errors, but not for trials with correct decisions. We provide evidence for both pre- and post- decisional neural correlates of decision confidence that are observed in trials with correct and erroneous decisions, respectively. Our findings suggest that certainty in having made a correct response is associated with frontal activity during decision formation, whereas certainty in having committed an error is instead associated with the post-decisional Pe component. We additionally show that some previously reported associations between decision confidence and CPP/Pe component amplitudes are (at least partly) a consequence of ERP amplitude measurement-related confounds.

Understanding neural signals of post-decisional performance monitoring: An integrative review

Performance monitoring is a key cognitive function, allowing to detect mistakes and adapt future behavior. Post-decisional neural signals have been identified that are sensitive to decision accuracy, decision confidence and subsequent adaptation. Here, we review recent work that supports an understanding of late error/confidence signals in terms of the computational process of post-decisional evidence accumulation. We argue that the error positivity, a positive-going centro-parietal potential measured through scalp electrophysiology, reflects the post-decisional evidence accumulation process itself, which follows a boundary crossing event corresponding to initial decision commitment. This proposal provides a powerful explanation for both the morphological characteristics of the signal and its relation to various expressions of performance monitoring. Moreover, it suggests that the error positivity –a signal with thus far unique properties in cognitive neuroscience – can be leveraged to furnish key new insights into the inputs to, adaptation, and consequences of the post-decisional accumulation process.

Age-related differences in the error-related negativity and error positivity in children and adolescents are moderated by sample and methodological characteristics: A meta-analysis

The error-related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe) are electrophysiological components associated with error processing that are thought to exhibit distinctive developmental trajectories from childhood to adulthood. To investigate the age and age moderation effects on the ERN and the Pe strength during development, we conducted a preregistered three-level meta-analysis synthesizing 120 and 41 effect sizes across 18 group comparison studies and 19 correlational studies, respectively. The meta-analysis included studies with mean age range between 3.6 to 28.7 years for age-group comparisons and 6.1 to 18.7 years for age correlations. Results showed that age was associated with a more negative ERN (SMD = -.433, r = -.230). No statistically significant association between age and the Pe was found (SMD = .059, r = -.091), except for in a group comparison between younger and older adolescents. The age effects were not significantly moderated by whether a Flanker or a Go/No-Go task was used, whereas studies that used other tasks found larger age effects on the Pe. There was a moderating effect of electrode site, whereby the Fz and Cz electrode sites yielded stronger negative associations between age and the ERN and the Pe, respectively. The results confirm that the ERN and the Pe show differential development courses and suggest that sample and methodological characteristics influence the age effects, and lay the foundation for investigations of developmental patterns of error processing in relation to psychopathology and early genetic and environmental risk factors.

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

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.

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

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.

A unifying framework for understanding neural signals of post-decisional performance monitoring

Performance monitoring is a key cognitive function, allowing to detect mistakes and adapt future behaviour. Post-decisional neural signals have been identified that are sensitive to decision accuracy, decision confidence and subsequent adaptation. Here, we review recent work that supports an understanding of late error/confidence signals in terms of the computational process of post-decisional evidence accumulation. We argue that the error positivity, a positive-going centro-parietal potential measured through scalp electrophysiology, reflects the post-decisional evidence accumulation process itself, which follows a boundary crossing event corresponding to initial decision commitment. This proposal provides a powerful explanation for both the morphological characteristics of the signal and its relation to various expressions of performance monitoring. Moreover, it suggests that the error positivity –a signal with thus far unique properties in cognitive neuroscience – can be leveraged to furnish key new insights into the inputs to, adaptation, and sequelae of the post-decisional accumulation process.

Age-related differences in the error-related negativity and error positivity in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Background: The error-related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe) are electrophysiological signals linked to error processing, a crucial aspect of self-monitoring and regulation. Previous research suggests different developmental trajectories for the ERN and Pe, with the ERN increasing in strength during the course of childhood and adolescence, while the Pe appears to reach a plateau by late childhood. There are, however, reports that are discrepant with this pattern, and effects of participant, task and methodological characteristics are poorly understood. The main objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to evaluate the effect of age on ERN and Pe magnitude in children and adolescents, and to examine potential moderators of these effects, including age, sex, experimental task, task difficulty, and topography and quantification of the ERN and Pe. Methods/design: Studies that report group differences between age-groups or associations with age for the ERN and/or Pe magnitude in typically developing children and/or adolescents will be identified. The literature search will be conducted through PubMed and Scopus, all abstracts will be screened, and reference lists of relevant articles cross-checked for inclusion. The present protocol will also be disseminated on social media platforms to call for unpublished data. The data will be extracted from the eligible studies and will be included in random-effect meta-analyses in R. The results will include the estimation of age and age-group effect sizes, heterogeneity, risk of publication bias, and effects of moderating variables. Discussion: The study will include a systematic literature search and meta-analyses to better understand age-related differences in the ERN and Pe magnitudes. The results will provide estimates of effect sizes that are relevant for calculating statistical power and sample sizes for future studies. In addition, it will provide benchmark effect sizes for typical development of the ERN and the Pe that could be used for comparison purposes in developmental studies of clinical or at-risk groups.

Response-locked component of error monitoring in psychopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of error-related negativity/positivity

Background: Evidence suggests that individuals with psychopathy display difficulties to adapt their behavior in accordance with the demands of the environment and show altered performance monitoring. However, studies investigating electrophysiological markers of error monitoring (e.g., the error-related negativity (ERN) and the error-positivity (Pe)) in this population reported mixed results. To explain discrepancies observed between studies, we hypothesized that psychopathy dimensions influence electrophysiological outcomes and we predicted that individuals with impulsive-antisocial features would display abnormal ERN compared to individuals with interpersonal-affective features. Methods: Based on the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating ERN and Pe components in individuals with psychopathy compared to controls. A factorial analysis was undertaken to investigate the role of psychopathy dimensions on ERN. Results: Among the 206 retrieved studies, 15 were included in the meta- analysis. Individuals with psychopathy (n = 817) showed a reduced ERN (Cohen's d = 0.18) and Pe amplitude (d = -0.22) compared to control. The factorial analysis indicates a dissociation regarding the dimensional construct of psychopathy. The impulsive-antisocial dimension was linked to reduced ERN amplitude (d = 0.22) whereas the interpersonal-affective dimension was related to increased ERN amplitude compare to controls (d = -0.17). Conclusion: Individuals with psychopathy displayed abnormal ERN and Pe amplitudes following error commission. In addition, models reported that individuals with psychopathic traits relating more specifically to the interpersonal-affective dimension shows efficient error-monitoring systems and increased ERN component while those with marked impulsive-antisocial dimension displayed decreased ERN and altered performance monitoring.

Error Processing During the Online Retrieval of Probabilistic Sequence Knowledge

Adaptive behavior involves rapid error processing and action evaluation. However, it has not been clarified how errors contribute to automatic behaviors that can be retrieved to successfully adapt to our complex environment. Automatic behaviors strongly rely on the process of probabilistic sequence learning and memory. Therefore, the present study investigated error processing during the online retrieval of probabilistic sequence knowledge. Twenty-four healthy young adults acquired and continuously retrieved a repeating stimulus sequence reflected by reaction time (RT) changes on a rapid forced-choice RT task. Performance was compared with a baseline that denoted the processing of random stimuli embedded in the probabilistic sequence. At the neurophysiological level, event-related brain potentials synchronized to responses were measured. Error processing was tracked by the error negativity (Ne) and the error positivity (Pe). The mean amplitude of the Ne gradually decreased as the task progressed, similarly for the sequence retrieval and the embedded baseline process. The mean amplitude of the Pe increased over time, likewise, irrespective of the type of the stimuli. Accordingly, we propose that automatic error detection (Ne) and conscious error evaluation (Pe) are not sensitive to sequence learning and retrieval. Overall, the present study provides insight into how error processing takes place for the retrieval of sequence knowledge in a probabilistic environment.