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When goals are missed: dealing with self-generated and externally induced failure
Markus Ullsperger1, Hiroshi Nittono, D Yves von Cramon
1Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. markus.ullsperger@nf.mpg.de
Neuroimage
|March 14, 2007
Summary
The posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC) monitors performance, signaling adjustments for errors. This brain region also tracks external failures, initiating compensatory actions regardless of the cause.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC) is recognized for its role in performance monitoring, particularly for self-generated errors.
- External factors, like equipment malfunctions, can also lead to missed action goals, necessitating compensatory actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the pMFC is engaged by failures due to external reasons.
- To compare pMFC activity between self-generated errors and externally caused failures.
- To explore how pMFC activity relates to the demands of compensatory actions.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- A modified flanker task was used, incorporating simulated technical malfunctions.
- Participants performed tasks involving self-generated errors and externally induced failures.
Main Results:
- Both errors and malfunctions elicited increased fMRI signals in the pMFC.
- The timing of pMFC activity differed, peaking later for malfunctions than for errors.
- pMFC activity correlated with the time required for compensatory actions, suggesting increased demand.
Conclusions:
- The pMFC is crucial for initiating compensatory actions, irrespective of whether the failure is self-generated or externally caused.
- pMFC activity reflects the ambiguity and demand associated with selecting appropriate compensatory strategies.
- The findings broaden the understanding of the pMFC's role in performance monitoring and adaptive control.
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