Hierarchical effects on target detection and conflict monitoring

• DOI: 10.1038/srep32234
• Publication Date: 2016-08-26T09:27:12Z
• Authors: Bihua Cao; Feng Gao; Maofang Ren; Fuhong Li
• Keywords: Hierarchical database model; Abstraction

Abstract Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated a hierarchical functional structure of the frontal cortices human brain, but temporal course and electrophysiological signature representation remains unaddressed. In present study, twenty-one volunteers were asked to perform nested cue-target task, while their scalp potentials recorded. The results showed that: (1) in comparison with lower-level targets, higher-level targets elicited larger N2 component (220–350 ms) at sites, smaller P3 (350–500 across parietal sites; (2) conflict-related negativity (non-target minus target) was greater for hierarchy than higher-level, reflecting more intensive process conflict monitoring final step target detection. These imply that decision making, context updating, differ among different levels abstraction.