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Individual differences and developmental change in the ERN response: implications for models of ACC function

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Abstract

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been associated with conditions precipitating an increase in effortful processing or increased attention, including the presence of conflicting information and the detection of errors. The error-related negativity (ERN), an electrocortical response, has been used as a marker for these conditions. The ERN amplitude however is subject to developmental change across the lifespan as well as being sensitive to individual differences in personality, affect, and autonomic responsivity. In this review, we examine the implications of such influences for a standard ACC model of conflict processing, and outline the need of any model of ACC function to include mechanisms that allow for the integration of neurovisceral and cognitive domains.

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Notes

  1. Although the focus has been on the ACC, more mPFC structures have been implicated in self-regulation networks, including ventromedial orbitofrontal regions and the medial wall of the PFC (Garavan, Ross, Murphy, Roche, & Stein, 2002; Luu et al., 2003; Luu et al., 2007; Posner, 2008). Differences in opinion as to which regions are essential may be due to the studies differing in research design and in the sensitivity of the brain imaging technology used. The specifics of the anatomical networks is not the focus of this paper.

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Acknowledgments

These studies were conducted with support from NSERC of Canada and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation to both authors.

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  1. Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada

    Sidney J. Segalowitz & Jane Dywan

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  1. Sidney J. Segalowitz
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Correspondence to Sidney J. Segalowitz.

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Segalowitz, S.J., Dywan, J. Individual differences and developmental change in the ERN response: implications for models of ACC function. Psychological Research 73, 857–870 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-008-0193-z

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