To err is autonomic: error-related brain potentials, ANS activity, and post-error compensatory behavior.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• The error-related negativity (ERN) and error-related positivity (Pe) are event-related potentials linked to error detection.
• These potentials are generated in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), involved in cognitive and affective processing.
• The ACC also modulates autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the ERN, Pe, autonomic measures (skin conductance, heart rate), and behavioral responses.
• To determine how these components relate to error monitoring and subsequent behavior.

Main Methods:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG), heart rate (HR), and skin conductance (SC) were recorded during a reaction-time task.
• Subjects performed a two-choice reaction-time task to elicit errors.

Main Results:

• Errors were associated with increased SCR and HR deceleration, alongside the ERN-Pe complex.
• The ERN correlated with error frequency but not ANS activity or compensatory adjustments.
• The Pe showed a significant correlation with SCR.
• Both SCR and Pe were significantly correlated with post-error slowing.

Conclusions:

• The error-related positivity (Pe), not the ERN, is associated with autonomic responses and post-error behavioral adjustments.
• These findings highlight the Pe's role in error awareness and its contribution to adaptive behavior following errors.