The influence of emotions due to verbal admonishment and encouragement on performance monitoring

This study investigated the relationship between emotion and performance monitoring as reflected in the error negativity/error-related negativity (Ne/ERN). Data were collected by using a spatial Stroop task from 15 female students of a university tennis club. After errors, participants received verbal feedback-recorded admonishments or encouragements spoken by their team captain. In a control condition no feedback was given after errors. Verbal admonishment decreased the ERN relative to the control condition, indicating impaired performance monitoring in line with somewhat larger compatibility effects in this condition. Source localization indicated a shift of the ERN toward more rostral zones within the anterior cingulate cortex indicating the involvement of affective processes.