Abstract
Event-related potentials were recorded from 12 adult subjects who listened to feedback tones during motor learning which required to control the force level of trigger pulling movement under the design of manipulating task difficulty and motivational state. Subjects were asked to pull a lever with the right index finger at his own pace and at a required force level. Feedback signals were three kinds of pip tones which indicated the force level to be correct (adequate ; 2000 Hz) or incorrect (below ; 500 Hz, over ; 4000 Hz) for the required level. Subjects heard one of these three tones immediately after each motor performance.
In every task condition, feedback tones elicited P3 component. And, irrespective of correct or incorrect feedback tones, the P3 amplitude and latency were almost equal. Negative ERPs having a peak latency of about 210ms (Nd wave) were observed only with incorrect feedback, and amplitude of Nd became larger with the progress of training. These results were discussed in relation to the between-channel selection and the within-channel selection in selective attention.
