Variations in retrieval monitoring during action memory judgments: Evidence from event-related potentials (ERPs)

The present study investigated the neuroscience of memory for actions using event-related potentials (ERPs). Actions were performed, initiated but not completed (i.e., interrupted), or watched while the experimenter performed the action during encoding. Memory was assessed in a reality monitoring (RM) test (performed vs. watched actions), as well as in an internal source monitoring (ISM) test (performed vs. interrupted) while ERPs were recorded. Behavioral measures provided evidence of robust old/new recognition for all actions, but the analysis of source errors revealed that interrupted actions were often confused with performed actions. The ERP correlate of recollection, the parietal “old/new” effect (700–900ms), was observed for all actions. The right frontal “old/new” effect (1500–1800ms) that correlates with general memory monitoring was observed in RM but not in ISM. Instead, ISM was associated with the late posterior negativity (LPN) that has been connected to more specific memory monitoring. This pattern of ERP findings suggest that, in this context, general monitoring was used to discriminate self- versus other-performed actions, whereas more specific monitoring was required to support the discrimination of completed and interrupted actions. We argue that the mix of general/specific monitoring processes is shaped by the global retrieval context, which includes the number of memory features that overlap and the combination of sources being considered among other factors. ► ERPs were recorded while remembering actions. ► Performed actions were compared to those watched or interrupted. ► The parietal old/new ERP effect was elicited during action judgments. ► Later ERPs (right frontal old/new effect and LPN) varied across judgments. ► Action discriminations recruited different monitoring processes.