Sensation seeking and error processing
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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse
Published on: November 10, 2010
Ya Zheng1, Wenbin Sheng, Jing Xu
1Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Abstract:
Sensation seeking is defined by a strong need for varied, novel, complex, and intense stimulation, and a willingness to take risks for such experience. Several theories propose that the insensitivity to negative consequences incurred by risks is one of the hallmarks of sensation-seeking behaviors. In this study, we investigated the time course of error processing in sensation seeking by recording event-related potentials (ERPs) while high and low sensation seekers performed an Eriksen flanker task. Whereas there were no group differences in ERPs to correct trials, sensation seeking was associated with a blunted error-related negativity (ERN), which was female-specific. Further, different subdimensions of sensation seeking were related to ERN amplitude differently. These findings indicate that the relationship between sensation seeking and error processing is sex-specific.
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