Internal and external information in error processing

Marcus Heldmann¹ , Jascha Rüsseler² and Thomas F Münte

¹Department of Neurology II, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany

²Department of Psychology II, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany

author email corresponding author email

BMC Neuroscience 2008, 9:33doi:10.1186/1471-2202-9-33


Published:	25 March 2008

Abstract

Background

The use of self-generated and externally provided information in performance monitoring is reflected by the appearance of error-related and feedback-related negativities (ERN and FRN), respectively. Several authors proposed that ERN and FRN are supported by similar neural mechanisms residing in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. The present study is aimed to test the functional relationship between ERN and FRN. Using an Eriksen-Flanker task with a moving response deadline we tested 17 young healthy subjects. Subjects received feedback with respect to their response accuracy and response speed. To fulfill both requirements of the task, they had to press the correct button and had to respond in time to give a valid response.

Results

When performance monitoring based on self-generated information was sufficient to detect a criterion violation an ERN was released, while the subsequent feedback became redundant and therefore failed to trigger an FRN. In contrast, an FRN was released if the feedback contained information which was not available before and action monitoring processes based on self-generated information failed to detect an error.

Conclusion

The described pattern of results indicates a functional interrelationship of response and feedback related negativities in performance monitoring.