Prediction of human errors by maladaptive changes in brain networks

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Prediction of human errors by maladaptive changes in brain networks Tom Eichele1*, S. Debener2, VD Calhoun3, 4, 5, Karsten Specht1, 6, A.K Engel7, Kenneth Hugdahl1, 6, D.Y Von Cramon8 and Markus Ullsperger8, 9 1 University of Bergen, Norway 2 MRC Institute of Hearing Research, United Kingdom 3 MIND Institute, United States 4 University of New Mexico, United States 5 Yale University School of Medicine, United States 6 Haukeland University Hospital, Norway 7 University of Hamburg, Germany 8 Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany 9 Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Germany Humans engaged in monotonous tasks are susceptible to occasional errors which may lead to serious consequences, but little is known about patterns of brain activity preceding errors. While it is conceivable that brain activity preceding action execution is causally responsible for the outcome, previous research on performance monitoring focused on the activity evoked by, and occurring after behavioral errors, and the ensuing adaptive effects. We investigated the possibility that some errors may be caused by a systematic maladjustment of cognitive control that develops more slowly over time, and which thus affords a prediction about the accuracy of future behavior from analyzing trends in the recent history of brain activity. To extract such error-preceding activity, we analyzed data from participants who performed a speeded visual flanker task while BOLD-fMRI data were collected. We have previously demonstrated the role of the medial frontal cortex in monitoring errors with an EEG-informed fMRI analysis of these data (Debener et al, J Neuroscience, 2005). By using independent component analysis in combination with deconvolution of hemodynamic responses and single trial estimation we found a set of brain regions in which the temporal evolution of activation predicted performance errors (Eichele et al, PNAS 2008). In particular, a coincident decrease of event-related deactivation in the default mode’s precuneus, together with a decline of activation in regions associated with maintaining task effort in the right lateral and medial superior frontal lobe, raised the probability of future errors. These maladaptive brain activity changes started as early as 30 seconds prior to the error. Our findings provide new insights into the trial-to-trial dynamics of performance monitoring, and suggest that understanding and monitoring these precursors may help avoiding human errors in real-world situations. Conference: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Bodrum, Turkey, 1 Sep - 5 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Symposium 6: Adaptive and maladaptive changes in brain activity prior and subsequent to erroneous behavior Citation: Eichele T, Debener S, Calhoun V, Specht K, Engel A, Hugdahl K, Von Cramon D and Ullsperger M (2008). Prediction of human errors by maladaptive changes in brain networks. Conference Abstract: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.01.030 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Nov 2008; Published Online: 27 Nov 2008. * Correspondence: Tom Eichele, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, tom.eichele@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Tom Eichele S. Debener VD Calhoun Karsten Specht A.K Engel Kenneth Hugdahl D.Y Von Cramon Markus Ullsperger Google Tom Eichele S. Debener VD Calhoun Karsten Specht A.K Engel Kenneth Hugdahl D.Y Von Cramon Markus Ullsperger Google Scholar Tom Eichele S. Debener VD Calhoun Karsten Specht A.K Engel Kenneth Hugdahl D.Y Von Cramon Markus Ullsperger PubMed Tom Eichele S. Debener VD Calhoun Karsten Specht A.K Engel Kenneth Hugdahl D.Y Von Cramon Markus Ullsperger Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.