Abstract. Adaptive behavior involves rapid error processing and action evaluation.
However, it has not been clarified how errors contribute to automatic behaviors that
can be retrieved to successfully adapt to our complex environment. Automatic behaviors
strongly rely on the process of probabilistic sequence learning and memory. Therefore,
the present study investigated error processing during the online retrieval of probabilistic
sequence knowledge. Twenty-four healthy young adults acquired and continuously retrieved
a repeating stimulus sequence reflected by reaction time (RT) changes on a rapid forced-choice
RT task. Performance was compared with a baseline that denoted the processing of random
stimuli embedded in the probabilistic sequence. At the neurophysiological level, event-related
brain potentials synchronized to responses were measured. Error processing was tracked
by the error negativity (Ne) and the error positivity (Pe). The mean amplitude of
the Ne gradually decreased as the task progressed, similarly for the sequence retrieval
and the embedded baseline process. The mean amplitude of the Pe increased over time,
likewise, irrespective of the type of the stimuli. Accordingly, we propose that automatic
error detection (Ne) and conscious error evaluation (Pe) are not sensitive to sequence
learning and retrieval. Overall, the present study provides insight into how error
processing takes place for the retrieval of sequence knowledge in a probabilistic
environment.
