The Error-Related Negativity
Abstract
We look back on the events surrounding the genesis of our 1993 article on the error-related negativity (ERN), a component of the event-related brain potential that accompanies errors in the performance of speeded-response tasks. Our reminiscences focus on the personal friendships, intellectual influences, and chance occurrences that shaped the article. To put our work in historical context, we consider subsequent trends in neuroimaging, computational modeling, and psychiatry that gave the ERN high visibility and contributed to the longevity of its scientific interest.
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The ERN is a neural marker of error monitoring processes.
“The ERN has been described as a neural marker of error monitoring processes [7–10]”
From Altered Error Monitoring and Decreased Flanker Task Accuracy in Pediatric Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (2026) · cites this paper as [10]
The CRN and Pc have lower amplitudes than the ERN and Pe, respectively.
“The correct response negativity (CRN) and correct positivity (Pc) that occur after a correct response in the same time windows as the ERN and Pe, respectively, are distinguished from their counterparts by having lower amplitudes [7–11].”
From Altered Error Monitoring and Decreased Flanker Task Accuracy in Pediatric Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (2026) · cites this paper as [10]
The ERN and Pe are components of the ERP following an error that are potential mechanistic biomarkers for OCD.
“The ERN and Pe are components of the ERP following an error that are potential mechanistic biomarkers for OCD [5, 7–11, 15, 17–21].”
From Altered Error Monitoring and Decreased Flanker Task Accuracy in Pediatric Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (2026) · cites this paper as [10]
Cites
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Frontal theta as a mechanism for cognitive control
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“Similar observations have led to a growing literature exploring the relationship between the ERN and oscillatory thetafrequency (4–8 Hz) activity (e.g., Cavanagh & Frank, 2014).”
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Gehring, W. J., Himle, J., & Nisenson, L. G. (2000) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00206 · Cited by 670 · see citing works
Self-citationOn the relationship between anxiety and error monitoring: a meta-analysis and conceptual framework
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The way of our errors: Theme and variations
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Hanna, G., Liu, Y., Rentschler, L., Hanna, B., Arnold, P., & Gehring, W. (2024) · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3943784/v1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Gehring, W. J., Goss, B., Coles, M. G. H., Meyer, D. E., & Donchin, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- Saint Louis University (ES)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- University of South Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gehring, William J.
- Venue
- Perspectives on Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-03
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 200-204
- ISSN
- 1745-6916 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-6924
- OpenAlex
- W2794542090
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 6.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perspectives on Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurology and Historical Studies
- Keywords
- error-related negativity, event-related potentials, error processing, history of research, research collaboration, neuroimaging
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