Background:

The Error-Related Negativity (ERN) is a negative ERP component that peaks around 80-100 ms after the participant makes an error on a psychological task. Chang, Davies & Gavin (2009) wanted to investigate whether the ERN is affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They compared a group of college students who had ADHD to a control group who did not have ADHD. Here is part of their results. The solid line represents the ADHD group, the dashed line represents the control group. The vertical line shows the time when the participants made the error (pressed the wrong button). Positive is upward.

\f