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To chart the neurotemporal dynamics of corrective failure, we recorded electroencephalography from 30 elite basketball players as they performed a passing decision task. In a within-subjects design, a heuristic cue (a recommended pass) either Conflicted with the optimal action derived from video stimuli (Conflict condition) or aligned with it (Nonconflict condition). Behaviorally, the Conflict manipulation incurred significant costs: accuracy was lower in the Conflict condition, and when players succumbed to the bias, they exhibited longer response times and lower confidence compared to correct Nonconflict decisions. Neurally, we charted a progressive breakdown of corrective control. A preresponse P2-P3b-N500 cascade, reflecting effort, but insufficient corrective attempt, was followed by a postresponse error-related negativity signaling the detection of the failure. This provides the first electrophysiological evidence that such failures are not instantaneous but are a dynamic, sequential process. Our findings advance decision-making theory from static system descriptions to a dynamic, process-level understanding.
Miao et al. (Tue,) studied this question.