Submission 546
Error Cancellation
SymposiumTalk-01
Presented by: Samuel Varga
Human performance is inherently fallible, yet the cognitive system is equipped with robust mechanisms to detect and counteract errors. Traditionally, research has emphasized the role of error detection and post-error adjustments. More recent work highlights a complementary process: the immediate cancellation of erroneous actions in real time. Evidence from behavioural and electrophysiological studies suggests that error detection can feed directly into ongoing motor activity, terminating erroneous responses within the first 100 milliseconds of action initiation. This rapid intervention is reflected in shortened response durations and in neural signatures such as the error-related negativity (ERN), which may index not only passive detection but also active attempts to halt and correct ongoing behaviour. Together, these findings support a dual-process view of performance monitoring: one component dedicated to recognizing action slips, and another devoted to their swift cancellation. Understanding error cancellation has practical implications for high-stakes domains where even minor lapses can lead to serious consequences. By situating error cancellation alongside traditional accounts of error processing, this perspective underscores the importance of rapid, adaptive control mechanisms in safeguarding human performance.