A commentary on establishing norms for error-related brain activity during the arrow flanker task among young adults

Peter E Clayson; Emily S Kappenman; William J Gehring; Gregory A Miller; Michael J Larson

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117932

A commentary on establishing norms for error-related brain activity during the arrow flanker task among young adults

Neuroimage. 2021 Jul 1:234:117932. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117932. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Authors

Peter E Clayson¹, Emily S Kappenman², William J Gehring³, Gregory A Miller⁴, Michael J Larson⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: clayson@usf.edu.
² Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.

PMID: 33677074
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117932

Abstract

We suggest that a large data set for the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) components of the scalp-recorded event-related brain potential (ERP) recently published as normative is not ready for such use in research and, especially, clinical application. Such efforts are challenged by an incomplete understanding of the functional significance of between-person differences in amplitudes and of nuisance factors that contribute to amplitude differences, a lack of standardization of methods, and the use of a convenience sample for the potentially normative database. To move ERPs toward standardization and useful norms, we encourage more research on the meaning of differences in ERN scores, including factors that influence between- and within-person variation, and the dissemination of protocols for data collection and processing.

Keywords: Error positivity (Pe); Error-related negativity (ERN); Event-related potentials (ERPs); Normative database; Standardization.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Brain
Electroencephalography*
Evoked Potentials*
Humans
Young Adult