Perceived similarity and neural mirroring: Evidence from vicarious error processing
Date
2007
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
This study examined the effects of perceived similarity and trait empathy on vicarious error processing. Participants observed a confederate performing a flankers task while event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Physiological data confirmed prior reports of an early ERP component resembling the error-related negativity (observation error-related negativity: oERN); further, a later component resembling the error positivity (observation error positivity: oPe) was identified for the first time. Self-reports of perceived similarity toward the confederate were unrelated to behavioral indices of error detection. Perceived similarity predicted both components of the error-related ERP: participants reporting higher similarity showed smaller oERN and larger oPe. Thus similarity was oppositely related to oERN and oPe. Self-reported empathy was positively correlated with oPe, but only among male participants. The results demonstrate that vicarious error monitoring is sensitive to social and personality factors. Further, differences between oERN and oPe highlight the need for additional studies of the functional significance of each component.