Response and evoked potential latencies associated with commission errors in visual monitoring

Abstract

Eight male subjects performed a 40-min visual monitoring task in which they were required to detect the occasional dim flash from a background of brighter flashes. Response latencies associated with correct detections (CDs) and commission errors (CEs) were recorded, as were the peak latencies of evoked potential (EP) components averaged separately for each of the two response categories. Response latencies for CEs were significantly longer than those for CDs, and “late” EP component latencies (P2, N2, and P3) associated with CEs were also significantly longer than component latencies associated with CDs. These results are discussed with reference to EP concomitants of decision processes and to various theories of monitoring behavior.