Event Abstract Back to Event Event-related potentials represent the degree of certainty Aslihan Selimbeyoglu1*, O. Yilmaz1 and T. Demiralp1 1 Istanbul University, Turkey Error-related negativity (ERN) is a waveform mainly observed when the subject commits an error, thanks to action-monitoring capability of the brain. We have referred to this potential and an additional slow-wave to differentiate between the states of mind during decision making process. EEG recordings were taken from 11 subjects during a two-choice reaction time task. The subjects were required to distinguish between two different-sized circles and give feedback on their responses by pressing buttons in the case they are uncertain or perceive an error. Before the analysis, the trials are classified as “hits without any feedback (certain-hit)”, “accurately reported errors (certain-error)”, “responses indicated as uncertain (uncertain)”. Mean ERN amplitudes which were measured between -50 to 50ms (response-locked) were more negative in “certain-error” trials than both in “uncertain” (p=0.011) and “certain” (p=0.006) trials. These effects were more prominent fronto-centrally. Additionally, a post-response slow-wave difference was observed between 200 and 500 ms which seems to be strongest at centro-parietal recording sites. The mean difference among this time window was significant between “certain-hit” and “certain-error” trials (p=0.005); and between “certain-hit” and “uncertain” responses (p=0.000) independently. It can be concluded that this slow-wave stems from “uncertain” and “certain-error” trials as the “certain-hit”ones proceed at the level of baseline. This inference also goes in line with the error-processing function of the brain as the slow-wave maybe a remnant of error potentials, and especially error-related positivity. Nevertheless, error-related negativity introduces a more direct evidence for the degree of certainty as the negativity decreases gradually from “certain-error” trials to “uncertain” to “certain-hit” trials. The data allow us to gain information about not only the awareness of the subjects of their actions but also the degree of determination they are in during taking those actions. This work is supported by the Project #2054 of the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Istanbul University. Conference: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Bodrum, Turkey, 1 Sep - 5 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Decision Making and Response Selection Citation: Selimbeyoglu A, Yilmaz O and Demiralp T (2008). Event-related potentials represent the degree of certainty. Conference Abstract: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.01.190 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: 08 Dec 2008; Published Online: 08 Dec 2008. * Correspondence: Aslihan Selimbeyoglu, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey, aslihansel@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 Aslihan Selimbeyoglu O. Yilmaz T. Demiralp Google Aslihan Selimbeyoglu O. Yilmaz T. Demiralp Google Scholar Aslihan Selimbeyoglu O. Yilmaz T. Demiralp PubMed Aslihan Selimbeyoglu O. Yilmaz T. Demiralp 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.