Error Related Negativity and Error Positivity: Neural Indices of Double-Faults in Elite Athletes

ObjectiveError-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) are key neural responses of human error monitoring. However, their relationship to behavioral adjustments after the mistakes in speeded laboratory experiments has shown mixed results. The present study examined whether ERN and Pe amplitudes would be better predictors of performance recovery following an error in a sport context than in a speeded laboratory task.MethodsFifteen male professional basketball players (18-26 years) performed a letter-based Eriksen Flanker task while their brain activity was recorded using 32-channel electroencephalography (EEG). Then, they completed a standardized 100-shot free-throw protocol on their home court. Recovery in the laboratory was measured as the ratio of back-to-back errors to total errors in the Flanker task, while recovery on the court was measured as the ratio of consecutive missed free throws to total misses. Pearson correlations and linear regression analysis were used to examine how ERP magnitudes relate to each recovery measure.ResultsAlthough ERN and Pe amplitudes were not associated with the laboratory consecutive-error ratio (all p values >.05), they were significant predictors of the field consecutive-miss ratio. Athletes with larger Pe and ERN amplitudes had significantly fewer consecutive misses (p < .001 and p = .017).ConclusionsERN and Pe may be less relevant for predicting specific post-error adjustments to immediate task demands and more relevant for predicting overall regulatory capacity in ecologically valid settings. Our findings highlight the need to use real-world performance measures when linking error monitoring with the realm of athletic performance.