Journal article
An adaptive orienting theory of error processing
Psychophysiology, Vol.55(3), pp.e13041-n/a
03/2018
DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13041
PMID: 29226960
Abstract
The ability to detect and correct action errors is paramount to safe and efficient goal‐directed behaviors. Existing work on the neural underpinnings of error processing and post‐error behavioral adaptations has led to the development of several mechanistic theories of error processing. These theories can be roughly grouped into adaptive and maladaptive theories. While adaptive theories propose that errors trigger a cascade of processes that will result in improved behavior after error commission, maladaptive theories hold that error commission momentarily impairs behavior. Neither group of theories can account for all available data, as different empirical studies find both impaired and improved post‐error behavior. This article attempts a synthesis between the predictions made by prominent adaptive and maladaptive theories. Specifically, it is proposed that errors invoke a nonspecific cascade of processing that will rapidly interrupt and inhibit ongoing behavior and cognition, as well as orient attention toward the source of the error. It is proposed that this cascade follows all unexpected action outcomes, not just errors. In the case of errors, this cascade is followed by error‐specific, controlled processing, which is specifically aimed at (re)tuning the existing task set. This theory combines existing predictions from maladaptive orienting and bottleneck theories with specific neural mechanisms from the wider field of cognitive control, including from error‐specific theories of adaptive post‐error processing. The article aims to describe the proposed framework and its implications for post‐error slowing and post‐error accuracy, propose mechanistic neural circuitry for post‐error processing, and derive specific hypotheses for future empirical investigations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- An adaptive orienting theory of error processing
- Creators
- Jan R Wessel - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychophysiology, Vol.55(3), pp.e13041-n/a
- DOI
- 10.1111/psyp.13041
- PMID
- 29226960
- NLM abbreviation
- Psychophysiology
- ISSN
- 0048-5772
- eISSN
- 1540-5958
- Number of pages
- 21
- Grant note
- Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Aging Mind and Brain Initiative
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2018
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Neurology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984002479902771
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