Post-error slowing as a consequence of disturbed low-frequency oscillatory phase entrainment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Post-error slowing as a consequence of disturbed low-frequency oscillatory phase entrainment

AU - van den Brink, Ruud L

AU - Wynn, Syanah C

AU - Nieuwenhuis, Sander

N1 - Copyright © 2014 the authors 0270-6474/14/3411096-10$15.00/0.

PY - 2014/8/13

Y1 - 2014/8/13

N2 - A common finding across many reaction time tasks is that people slow down on trials following errors, a phenomenon known as post-error slowing. In the present study, we tested a novel hypothesis about the neural mechanism underlying post-error slowing. Recent research has shown that when task-relevant stimuli occur in a rhythmic stream, neuronal oscillations entrain to the task structure, thereby enhancing reaction speed. We hypothesized that under such circumstances post-error slowing results from an error-induced disturbance of this endogenous brain rhythm. To test this hypothesis, we measured oscillatory EEG dynamics while human subjects performed a demanding discrimination task under time pressure. We found that low-frequency neuronal oscillations entrained to the stimulus presentation rhythm, and that the low-frequency phase at stimulus onset predicted the speed of responding. Importantly, we found that this entrainment was disrupted following errors, and that the degree of phase disturbance was closely related to the degree of post-error slowing on the subsequent trial. These results describe a new mechanism underlying behavioral changes following errors.

AB - A common finding across many reaction time tasks is that people slow down on trials following errors, a phenomenon known as post-error slowing. In the present study, we tested a novel hypothesis about the neural mechanism underlying post-error slowing. Recent research has shown that when task-relevant stimuli occur in a rhythmic stream, neuronal oscillations entrain to the task structure, thereby enhancing reaction speed. We hypothesized that under such circumstances post-error slowing results from an error-induced disturbance of this endogenous brain rhythm. To test this hypothesis, we measured oscillatory EEG dynamics while human subjects performed a demanding discrimination task under time pressure. We found that low-frequency neuronal oscillations entrained to the stimulus presentation rhythm, and that the low-frequency phase at stimulus onset predicted the speed of responding. Importantly, we found that this entrainment was disrupted following errors, and that the degree of phase disturbance was closely related to the degree of post-error slowing on the subsequent trial. These results describe a new mechanism underlying behavioral changes following errors.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Brain

KW - Brain Waves

KW - Electroencephalography

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Psychomotor Performance

KW - Reaction Time

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4991-13.2014

DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4991-13.2014

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 25122906

VL - 34

SP - 11096

EP - 11105

JO - J NEUROSCI

JF - J NEUROSCI

SN - 0270-6474

IS - 33

ER -