Performance monitoring and response conflict resolution associated with choice stepping reaction tasks

Abstract

Choice reaction requires response conflict resolution, and the resolution processes that occur during a choice stepping reaction task undertaken in a standing position, which requires maintenance of balance, may be different to those processes occurring during a choice reaction task performed in a seated position. The study purpose was to investigate the resolution processes during a choice stepping reaction task at the cortical level using electroencephalography and compare the results with a control task involving ankle dorsiflexion responses. Twelve young adults either stepped forward or dorsiflexed the ankle in response to a visual imperative stimulus presented on a computer screen. We used the Simon task and examined the error-related negativity (ERN) that follows an incorrect response and the correct-response negativity (CRN) that follows a correct response. Error was defined as an incorrect initial weight transfer for the stepping task and as an incorrect initial tibialis anterior activation for the control task. Results revealed that ERN and CRN amplitudes were similar in size for the stepping task, whereas the amplitude of ERN was larger than that of CRN for the control task. The ERN amplitude was also larger in the stepping task than the control task. These observations suggest that a choice stepping reaction task involves a strategy emphasizing post-response conflict and general performance monitoring of actual and required responses and also requires greater cognitive load than a choice dorsiflexion reaction. The response conflict resolution processes appear to be different for stepping tasks and reaction tasks performed in a seated position.

Event-Related Potentials Reveal Altered Executive Control Activity in Healthy Elderly With Subjective Memory Complaints

“…However, individuals with HSMC showed larger MFN in those conditions where the stimulus position and/or the direction pointed by the arrow were incompatible with the required response. These increased MFN amplitudes suggested greater activity allocated to conflict monitoring (Gehring and Willoughby, 2002 ; Masaki et al, 2007 , 2012 ; Nessler et al, 2007 ; Watanabe et al, 2016 ), which could be interpreted as deployment of compensatory mechanisms to maintain an appropriate level of performance (Reuter-Lorenz and Cappell, 2008 ; Schneider-Garces et al, 2010 ). In fact, increased MFN was accompanied by a similar degree of interference from the stimulus position in both groups although the direction pointed by the arrow interfered only in the HSMC group.…”

“…MFN is a correlate of brain activity generated in the anterior cingulate cortex (Yeung et al, 2004 ; Masaki et al, 2007 ; Nessler et al, 2007 ), which was related to conflict monitoring processes (Botvinick et al, 2001 ). In this regard, the amplitude of MFN correlates with the amount of neural activity allocated to conflict monitoring (Masaki et al, 2012 ; Watanabe et al, 2016 ). For instance, Masaki et al ( 2012 ) reported that the amplitude of MFN was larger in a version of the Simon task that required high levels of conflict monitoring compared to an easier version of the Simon task.…”

Motor Preparation of Step Initiation: Error-related Cortical Oscillations

“…516 We did not observe any differences in the ERN/CRN 517 amplitudes. The amplitudes of CRN and ERN were also 518 similar for the stepping task in (Watanabe et al, 2016b) 519 that used a Simon task to elicit APA errors. They pro- ).…”

The Effect of Prior Knowledge of Color on Behavioral Responses and Event-Related Potentials During Go/No-go Task

“…Electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded using three Ag/AgCl active electrodes at Fz, Cz, and Oz according to the International 10–20 system. Eye blinks and movements were monitored via electrooculogram (EOG) using bipolar electrodes attached to the outer side of the right canthus and below the left eye ( Watanabe et al, 2016b ). All channels were referenced to the linked earlobes.…”