Resting frontal EEG alpha asymmetry has been extensively examined as a marker of motivational disposition. Recent research has examined how this trait-level marker of motivation influences an individual’s internal error monitoring (indexed by the error-related negativity; ERN), with mixed findings as to whether more negative ERNs are associated with greater left or right alpha power. Data from 339 children who completed an incentivized Go/No-Go task annually from Kindergarten through 2nd grade were examined for an association between ERN amplitude and EEG asymmetry, and for whether the association was developmentally stable. Results indicate an association between left-dominant activation and a more negative amplitude in Kindergarten, with an inversion of this association emerging by 2nd grade, such that a more negative ERNs were associated with right-dominant activation. We suggest that the association between EEG asymmetry and ERN amplitude is likely modulated by task condition (e.g., incentivization) and experience over time (e.g., habituation).

静息额叶脑电图 alpha 不对称性已被广泛检查为动机倾向的标志。最近的研究已经研究了这种特质级别的动机标记如何影响个人的内部错误监控（由错误相关的负性指数；ERN），关于更多的负 ERN 是否与更大的左阿尔法力量或右阿尔法力量相关，结果喜忧参半。检查了从幼儿园到二年级每年完成激励性去/不去任务的 339 名儿童的数据，以确定 ERN 振幅与 EEG 不对称之间的关联，以及该关联是否在发育上稳定。结果表明左主导激活与幼儿园更负的振幅之间存在关联，这种关联在二年级时出现反转，使得更负的 ERN 与右主导激活相关。我们建议 EEG 不对称性和 ERN 振幅之间的关联可能受任务条件（例如，激励）和随时间推移的经验（例如，习惯）的调节。