Success versus failure in cognitive control: meta-analytic evidence from neuroimaging studies on error processing

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Brain mechanisms of error processing have often been investigated using response interference tasks and focusing on the posterior medial frontal cortex, which is also implicated in resolving response conflict in general. Thereby, the role other brain regions may play has remained undervalued. Here, activation likelihood estimation meta-analyses were used to synthesize the neuroimaging literature on brain activity related to committing errors versus responding successfully in interference tasks and to test for commonalities and differences. The salience network and the temporoparietal junction were commonly recruited irrespective of whether responses were correct or incorrect, pointing towards a general involvement in coping with situations that call for increased cognitive control. The dorsal posterior cingulate cortex, posterior thalamus, and left superior frontal gyrus showed error-specific convergence, which underscores their consistent involvement when performance goals are not met. In contrast, successful responding revealed stronger convergence in the dorsal attention network and lateral prefrontal regions. Underrecruiting these regions in error trials may reflect failures in activating the task-appropriate stimulus-response contingencies necessary for successful response execution.

Authors 5

1. Edna C. Cieslik corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

2. Markus Ullsperger

   Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg · Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany

   Institute of Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany

   Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences

   Institute of Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University

3. Martin Gell Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich

4. Simon Bodo Eickhoff

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

5. Robert Langner

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf