On the ERN and the significance of errors

Hajcak, Greg; Moser, Jason S.; Yeung, Nick; Simons, Robert F.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2005.00270.x

Cited by 529 publications

(481 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(91 reference statements)

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“…Errors are typically considered as rare, negative and interfering events, which need to be avoided, and can even activate the defensive/aversive motivational system (Hajcak & Foti, 2008). Accordingly, it is plausible that errors do not only influence cognitive mechanisms such as learning, attention, and memory, but also modulate affective states in order to promote adaptive and flexible behaviors (Hajcak et al, 2005;Li et al, 2008). Nevertheless, very few studies have corroborated this assumption so far (see Brazdil et al, 2002), and the impact of errors on brain systems implicated in emotional appraisal remains largely unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…However, these studies do not inform about the exact time-course of error processing, in particular in relation to successive stages of motor preparation, execution, and/or feedback signals. Likewise, although several scalp ERP studies reported a modulation of the ERN amplitude by emotional or motivational factors (Hajcak et al, 2003a(Hajcak et al, , 2004Hajcak et al, 2005;Pizzagalli et al, 2006;Vocat et al, 2008;Hajcak & Foti, 2008), none could relate these effects to the activation of deep brain structures involved in emotional processing, such as the amygdala or insula.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on this evidence, some theories proposed that ACC activity following errors could also reflect an appraisal of the affective significance or salience of errors (Luu, Tucker, Derryberry, Reed, & Poulsen, 2003;Hajcak, Moser, Yeung, & Simons, 2005;Pizzagalli, Peccoralo, Davidson, & Cohen, 2006;Taylor et al, 2006;Polli et al, 2008Polli et al, , 2009Li et al, 2008;Hajcak & Foti, 2008). Consistent with this notion, the amplitude of the ERN is modulated not only by manipulations such as the frequency of errors (as predicted by the error-based reinforcement learning model, see Gehring, Goss, Coles, Meyer, & Donchin, 1993;Hajcak et al, 2003b), but also by motivational and emotional factors unrelated to the dopaminergic reward system, such as changes in state or trait anxiety (see Hajcak, McDonald, & Simons, 2003aVocat, Pourtois, & Vuilleumier, 2008; see also Pizzagalli et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Errors recruit both cognitive and emotional monitoring systems: Simultaneous intracranial recordings in the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus and amygdala combined with fMRI

Pourtois¹,

Vocat²,

N’Diaye³

et al. 2010

Neuropsychologia

116

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We studied error monitoring in a human patient with unique implantation of depth electrodes in both the left dorsal cingulate gyrus and medial temporal lobe prior to surgery. The patient performed a speeded go/nogo task and made a substantial number of commission errors (false alarms). As predicted, intracranial Local Field Potentials (iLFPs) in dorsal anterior cingulate indexed the detection of errors, showing an early differential activity around motor execution for false alarms, relative to correct responses (either hits or correct inhibitions). More surprisingly, we found that the left amygdala also participated to error monitoring (although no emotional stimuli were used), but with a very different neurophysiological profile as compared with the dorsal cingulate cortex. Amygdala iLFPs showed a precise and reproducible temporal unfolding, characterized by an early monophasic response for correct hits around motor execution, which was delayed by ~300 ms for errors (even though actual RTs were almost identical in these two conditions). Moreover, time-frequency analyses demonstrated a reliable and transient coupling in the theta band around motor execution between these two distant regions. Additional fMRI investigation in the same patient confirmed a differential involvement of the dorsal cingulate cortex vs. amygdala in error monitoring during this go/nogo task. Finally, these intracranial results for the left amygdala were replicated in a second patient with intracranial electrodes in the right amygdala. Altogether, these results suggest that the amygdala may register the motivational significance of motor actions on a trial-by-trial basis, while the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex may provide signals concerning failures of cognitive control and behavioral adjustment. More generally, these data shed new light on neural mechanisms underlying self monitoring by showing that even "simple" motor actions recruit not only executive cognitive processes (in dorsal cingulate) but also affective processes (in amygdala).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Errors recruit both cognitive and emotional monitoring systems: Simultaneous intracranial recordings in the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus and amygdala combined with fMRI

Pourtois¹,

Vocat²,

N’Diaye³

et al. 2010

Neuropsychologia

116

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…There is a whole range of studies that demonstrate an increase in amplitude of the ERN on incongruent as compared to congruent trials, despite differences in the behavioral responses on these trials. Participants are generally slower and make more errors on incongruent compared to congruent trials (e.g., Hajcak et al, 2005;Fiehler et al, 2005;Yeung et al, 2004). This increase in amplitude of the ERN is attributed to the increased amount of response conflict during incongruent trials compared to congruent trials and not due to behavioral differences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The general finding is that the ERN increases when monetary incentives are offered for accuracy (Gehring et al, 1993;Hajcak et al, 2005;Pailing and Segalowitz, 2004). For instance, Pailing and Segalowitz (2004) manipulated value of response error by selectively financially rewarding one type of response over another in a four-choice letter task.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivation and semantic context affect brain error-monitoring activity: An event-related brain potentials study

2008

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During speech production, we continuously monitor what we say. In situations in which speech errors potentially have more severe consequences, e.g. during a public presentation, our verbal selfmonitoring system may pay special attention to prevent errors than in situations in which speech errors are more acceptable, such as a casual conversation. In an event-related potential study, we investigated whether or not motivation affected participants' performance using a picture naming task in a semantic blocking paradigm. Semantic context of to-be-named pictures was manipulated; blocks were semantically related (e.g., cat, dog, horse, etc.) or semantically unrelated (e.g., cat, table, flute, etc.). Motivation was manipulated independently by monetary reward. The motivation manipulation did not affect error rate during picture naming. However, the highmotivation condition yielded increased amplitude and latency values of the error-related negativity (ERN) compared to the low-motivation condition, presumably indicating higher monitoring activity. Furthermore, participants showed semantic interference effects in reaction times and error rates. The ERN amplitude was also larger during semantically related than unrelated blocks, presumably indicating that semantic relatedness induces more conflict between possible verbal responses.

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The Influence of Exercise on Cognitive Abilities

Gómez‐Pinilla

Hillman

2013

Comprehensive Physiology

457

333

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Scientific evidence based on neuroimaging approaches over the last decade has demonstrated the efficacy of physical activity improving cognitive health across the human lifespan. Aerobic fitness spares age-related loss of brain tissue during aging, and enhances functional aspects of higher order regions involved in the control of cognition. More active or higher fit individuals are capable of allocating greater attentional resources toward the environment and are able to process information more quickly. These data are suggestive that aerobic fitness enhances cognitive strategies enabling to respond effectively to an imposed challenge with a better yield in task performance. In turn, animal studies have shown that exercise has a benevolent action on health and plasticity of the nervous system. New evidence indicates that exercise exerts its effects on cognition by affecting molecular events related to the management of energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity. An important instigator in the molecular machinery stimulated by exercise is brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which acts at the interface of metabolism and plasticity. Recent studies show that exercise collaborates with other aspects of lifestyle to influence the molecular substrates of cognition. In particular, select dietary factors share similar mechanisms with exercise, and in some cases they can complement the action of exercise. Therefore, exercise and dietary management appear as a noninvasive and effective strategy to counteract neurological and cognitive disorders.

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On the ERN and the significance of errors

Cited by 529 publications

References 42 publications

Errors recruit both cognitive and emotional monitoring systems: Simultaneous intracranial recordings in the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus and amygdala combined with fMRI

Errors recruit both cognitive and emotional monitoring systems: Simultaneous intracranial recordings in the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus and amygdala combined with fMRI

Motivation and semantic context affect brain error-monitoring activity: An event-related brain potentials study

The Influence of Exercise on Cognitive Abilities

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