Rostral cingulate zone and correct response monitoring: ICA and source localization evidences for the unicity of correct- and error-negativities
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Falkenstein et al. (1991) first described a negative wave occurring just after an erroneous response in choice Reaction time tasks ("Error Negativity"-Ne or "Error Related Negativity"-ERN). Thanks to Laplacian transform of the data, Vidal et al. (2000, 2003a) described a wave on correct trials with similar topography and latency, although of smaller amplitude compared to the errors. A critical question is whether the Ne observed on errors and the negativity reported on correct trials reflect the same (modulated) activity, or whether they reflect completely different mechanisms. These two alternative possibilities were tested thanks to Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and source localization. ICA results showed that the waves recorded on errors and correct trials can be accounted for by the same independent component, corresponding to a dipolar source located within the Rostral Cingulate Zone. Source localization on the raw data also confirmed a common generator for correct and error trials. These data suggest that the waves on errors and correct trials reflect the same brain activity, whose amplitude varies as a function of the correctness of the response. The implications of this result for cognitive control are discussed.
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Studies of correct-response monitoring show that correct trials also elicit response-locked activity, and that Pc may reflect confidence, internal confirmation, or the subjective significance of correct performance.
“Studies of correct-response monitoring show that correct trials also elicit response-locked activity, and that Pc may reflect confidence, internal confirmation, or the subjective significance of correct performance [194,196,202,203].”
From Electrophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Systematic and Mechanistic Review of EEG, ERP, and QEEG Evidence (2026) · cites this paper as [202]
The Introduction (page unavailable) reports that a negative wave occurs just after correct responses and that it is response-locked. The paper discusses this correct-trial negativity (Ne-like), but the passages do not support the claim that Pc reflects confidence, internal confirmation, or the subjective significance of correct performance. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe ERN/CRN component is present as soon as participants respond to stimuli, whether or not the response is correct, but is greater for erroneous responses than for correct ones.
“The ERN/CRN component would therefore be present as soon as participants respond to stimuli, whether or not the response is correct, but would be greater for erroneous responses than for correct ones.”
From Error-Related Brain Potentials as Biomarkers of Pathology Severity and Treatment Resistance in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2026) · cites this paper as [12]
Correct responses to flanker or go no-go tasks are accompanied by a smaller negative component (CRN) with the same temporal profile as the ERN.
“several authors have shown that correct responses to flanker or go no‐go tasks are accompanied by a smaller negative component (CRN) with the same temporal profile as the ERN [12–14].”
From Error-Related Brain Potentials as Biomarkers of Pathology Severity and Treatment Resistance in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2026) · cites this paper as [12]
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- Authors
- Roger, C., Bénar, C. G., Vidal, F., Hasbroucq, T., & Burle, B.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Venue
- NeuroImage
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 391-403
- ISSN
- 1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3939321
- OpenAlex
- W2014088563
- Cited by
- 153
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 9.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- NeuroImage (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Keywords
- error-related negativity, correct response negativity, response monitoring, error detection, cognitive control, choice reaction time, independent component analysis, source localization, dipolar sources, event-related potentials
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Electroencephalography, Electromyography, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Motor Activity, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted, Time Factors, Young Adult, Executive Function
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