Abstract
The present study investigated the role of causal attribution for performance monitoring in the medial frontal cortex. To
this end, we compared internally and externally-caused errors in a selective attention task with respect to error-related
EEG activity and error-induced adjustments of speed and attentional selectivity. Both error types evoked early negativities
and later positivities in the response-locked event-related potential. However, whereas internally-caused errors caused posterror
slowing, externally-caused errors were followed by reduced attentional selectivity. Moreover, the amount of reduced attentional
selectivity was related to the amplitude of the early negativity on externally-caused errors. This suggests that posterror
adjustments are initiated on the basis of perceived causality and, thus, causal attribution of errors.
this end, we compared internally and externally-caused errors in a selective attention task with respect to error-related
EEG activity and error-induced adjustments of speed and attentional selectivity. Both error types evoked early negativities
and later positivities in the response-locked event-related potential. However, whereas internally-caused errors caused posterror
slowing, externally-caused errors were followed by reduced attentional selectivity. Moreover, the amount of reduced attentional
selectivity was related to the amplitude of the early negativity on externally-caused errors. This suggests that posterror
adjustments are initiated on the basis of perceived causality and, thus, causal attribution of errors.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-011-0033-2
- Authors
- Marco Steinhauser, Fachbereich Psychologie, University of Konstanz, Fach D29, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Andrea Kiesel, Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026