Error detection mechanisms of the brain: Background and prospects

Abstract

Historical background of error detection (ED) studies is restored here from the first suggestion of such a mechanism published (Rabbit, 1966) and the first related anatomo-physiological correlates observed [Bechtereva, N.P., Gretchin, V.B., 1968. Physiological foundations of mental activity. Int. Rev. Neurobiol., vol. 11. Academic Press, N.Y., pp. 239–246; Bechtereva, N.P., 1971. Neurophysiological Aspects of Human Mental Activity. Meditzina, Moskow. 120 pp., (in Russian); Bechtereva, N.P., 1974. Neurophysiological Aspects of Human Mental Activity, second edition, revied and complete Meditzina, Moskow. 151 pp., (in Russian)]. Data from evoked potentials together with new opportunities offered by the technological revolution of the 1980s–1990s provided a large body of knowledge on the ED. The overwhelming majority of the papers stress the spatial relation of ED to Anterior Cingulate Cortex. ED was revealed in a number of other zones to whose role should be specially discussed. The other point of interest is the late appearance of ED after the brain signs of correction which seems particularly important considering the supposed functional role of ED. Data of direct observations of ECoG dynamics in left and right human ACC on correct and erroneous test performance are presented. Research on ED resulted in the development of new ways in treatment of the obsessive–compulsive syndrome. Further psychophysiological research into the ED phenomena is considered as one of the priorities of fundamental and applied investigations for the elucidation of human brain functions. Opinion that ED plays an extremely important role in mechanisms of cognition and creativity is further argumented. Investigations in the field can contribute a lot to clinical neurophysiology as well.