Developmental changes in error monitoring: an event-related potential study

The aim of the study was to investigate the developmental trajectory of error monitoring. For this purpose, children (age 7-8), young adolescents (age 13-14) and adults (age 23-24) performed a Go/No-Go task and were compared on overt reaction time (RT) performance and on event-related potentials (ERPs), thought to reflect error detection (error-related negativity: ERN) and conscious evaluation (error positivity: Pe) of the error. RT on correct trials, variability of responding and percentage of errors decreased with age. The latencies of incorrect responses, compared to correct responses, were shorter in children and adolescents than in adults, indicative of developmental changes in impulsive response style. Groups did not differ in the ability to adjust response strategies after making an error (post-error slowing). The ERN amplitude increased with age, the Pe amplitude did not change with age. Possible explanations for the developmental changes in ERN are discussed.