Spatio-temporal Brain Dynamics Mediating Post-error Behavioral Adjustments

Abstract

Abstract■ Optimal behavior relies on flexible adaptation to environmental requirements, notably based on the detection of errors. The impact of error detection on subsequent behavior typically manifests as a slowing down of RTs following errors. Precisely how errors impact the processing of subsequent stimuli and in turn shape behavior remains unresolved. To address these questions, we used an auditory spatial go/no-go task where continual feedback informed participants of whether they were too slow. We contrasted auditory-evoked potentials to left-lateralized go and right no-go stimuli as a function of performance on the preceding go stimuli, generating a 2 × 2 design with "preceding performance" (fast hit [FH], slow hit [SH]) and stimulus type (go, no-go) as within-subject factors. SH trials yielded SH trials on the following trials more often than did FHs, supporting our assumption that SHs engaged effects similar to errors. Electrophysiologically, auditory-evoked potentials modulated topographically as a function of preceding performance 80-110 msec poststimulus onset and then as a function of stimulus type at 110-140 msec, indicative of changes in the underlying brain networks. Source estimations revealed a stronger activity of prefrontal regions to stimuli after successful than error trials, followed by a stronger response of parietal areas to the no-go than go stimuli. We interpret these results in terms of a shift from a fast automatic to a slow controlled form of inhibitory control induced by the detection of errors, manifesting during low-level integration of task-relevant features of subsequent stimuli, which in turn influences response speed. ■

Model-Based Cognitive Neuroscience: A Conceptual Introduction

“…Most of this work involves an empirical comparison between groups, treatments, or experimental conditions. For instance, Rouw and Scholte [30] compared a group of control participants with a group of Playing a first-person shooter video game induces neuroplastic change [34] Closing the gates to consciousness: Distractors activate a central inhibition process [35] TMS of the FEF interferes with spatial conflict [36] Local field potential activity associated with temporal expectations in the macaque lateral intraparietal area [37] Spatio-temporal brain dynamics mediating post-error behavioral adjustments [38] Hippocampal involvement in processing of indistinct visual motion stimuli [39] grapheme-color synesthetes, people who experience a specific color whenever they see a particular letter or number (e.g., "T is bright red"). Diffusion tensor imaging confirmed the hypothesis that the added sensations in synesthesia are associated with more coherent white matter tracts in various brain areas in frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex.…”

Plastic modifications within inhibitory control networks induced by practicing a stop-signal task: An electrical neuroimaging study

“…A topographic pattern analysis was applied to the ERPs to determine whether the configuration of intracranial generators changed between the beginning and the end of the practice (e.g., Michel et al, 2004;Murray et al, 2008;Manuel et al, 2010Manuel et al, , 2012. This approach is based on evidence that the ERP map topography does not vary randomly across time, but remains quasi-stable over 20e100 msec functional microstates before rapidly switching to other stable periods (Lehmann and Skrandies, 1980;Britz and Michel, 2011).…”

“…The calculation of the source estimations have been detailed elsewhere (e.g., Manuel et al, 2012;Thelen et al, 2012).…”

Early attentional processes distinguish selective from global motor inhibitory control: An electrical neuroimaging study

“…A calibration phase of 18 trials (12 G, 3 GNG, and 3 SNG) was presented before each block. The calibration enabled inducing additional time pressure and adjusting individually the difficulty of the task (see Manuel et al, 2012;Vocat et al, 2008 for similar procedures). During the calibration phase, the maximal response time threshold (mRTT) to the Go stimuli was determined.…”