Weaker error signals do not reduce the effectiveness of post-error adjustments: comparing error processing in young and middle-aged adults

Brain Research
Jessica Vanessa Strozyk, Ines Jentzsch

Abstract

In this study we investigated age-related differences in error processing, comparing performance measures and physiological indicators of error processing of middle-aged (41-59years) and young (18-31years) adults using a version of the Eriksen flanker task. Although middle-aged participants were overall slower, both groups showed a comparable decrease in reaction time on error trials as well as slower and more accurate post-error performance. Despite the preserved error speeding and post-error slowing effects, we found an amplitude reduction in the Ne/ERN, contradicting the existence of a direct relationship between the amplitude of this component and post-error adjustments. This was further supported by the lack of significant correlations between the single-trial Ne/ERN amplitude and error-related reaction times. The single-trial Ne/ERN distribution showed a reduced variance for middle-aged compared to young participants, suggesting that weaker overall error signals rather than lapses in error detection are responsible for the observed Ne/ERN amplitude reductions. However, we argue that the signal still reached the necessary threshold to trigger normal post-error adjustments. Finally, the early Pe showed a reduction in amplit...Continue Reading

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Jun 17, 2014·PloS One·Andrew ChangChiang-Shan R Li
Sep 10, 2015·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Blair SaundersMichael Inzlicht
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