Spatial cueing modulates the monitoring of correct responses

Efficient behavior requires actions to be monitored continuously. The monitoring of errors as reflected in the error negativity (Ne) has been claimed to be an important source for behavioral adaptation. The corresponding process of controlling correct responses is less evaluated. Recent studies on post-behavior negativities implicate a common response monitoring system for both behavioral outcomes. Specifically, it has been suggested that negative potentials following correct responses may be a correlate of response expectancy, evaluating congruences in the absence of behavioral errors. This notion was tested in a simple spatial cueing task. An inhibition of return (IOR) paradigm was utilized and the response-related ERP (Ne-like) was tested in a task with hardly any response errors. The results show that the Ne-like is sensitive to already very basic cue-target relations and the IOR effect.