Cognitive Control and Conflict Adaptation Similarities in Children and Adults

Abstract

Conflict adaptation effects occur when previous-trial congruency affects current-trial performance. We examined developmental differences in response time (RT), error rate, and electrophysiological (N450 and conflict slow-potential [conflict SP] event-related potentials [ERPs]) indices of conflict adaptation in 21 typically developing children and 26 adults during a Stroop task. Children exhibited significantly slower RTs, increased error rates, and increased ERP amplitudes relative to adults. Groups did not differ in magnitude of conflict adaptation for RTs, error rates, or the conflict SP. Neither group showed significant N450 conflict adaptation. Results suggest current indices of conflict adaptation do not differ between children and adults.

Acknowledgments

This research has not been published or submitted elsewhere. The authors report no conflicts of interest. This research was funded by an internal grant from the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences at Brigham Young University.