Follow our health intervention - pre and post check-ups in the EEG lab

Follow us - strengthen mental performance together!

Many people want to maintain their mental fitness and prevent cognitive decline.
To achieve this, we are conducting a new study with several innovative approaches: We are investigating how various interventions have a positive impact on cognitive performance – and cordially invite you to follow our scientific journey.

Today: Insights into error perception in the brain

What happens in the brain when mistakes are made – and do we always notice them? To explore this fascinating question, we conduct EEG measurements in combination with the Error Awareness Task (EAT). This becomes particularly interesting when this procedure is used in intervention studies to assess the influence of training or therapy on error processing.

• What is the Error Awareness Task? The EAT is a modified Go/No-Go or Stroop task for assessing both conscious and unconscious errors. Participants are presented with a series of stimuli, such as colored words, and must follow certain rules when responding. Crucially, after their response, participants indicate by pressing a button whether or not they have noticed an error.

• The EEG Measurement - A Glimpse into Error Processing: During the task, the brain's electrical activity is continuously measured using electroencephalography (EEG). The focus is on the so-called "error-related potentials" – especially the error-related negativity (ERN) and the "error positivity" (Pe). When an error occurs, the brain displays a negative peak (ERN) within the first 150 milliseconds after the incorrect response; the Pe is a later potential that is significantly higher, especially when the error is consciously perceived.

• The Intervention: As part of the intervention study, our participants are examined before and after training. Before starting, they complete the error awareness task, while the EEG records brain activity. After the intervention, the task is repeated.

The EEG data allows us to understand changes in error processing: Can the intervention increase sensitivity to errors? Are more errors consciously perceived? The combination of behavioral assessment and neurophysiological measurements allows for a high-resolution assessment of cognitive development.

Stay active!

We conduct research in an area that is important to all of us: the maintenance and promotion of mental health. At the same time, we want to inspire you to pursue a physically, mentally, and socially active lifestyle. Look forward to further postings from our intervention study!