Research ReportTemporal course of executive control when lying about self- and other-referential information: An ERP study

Recent neuroimaging studies have been trying to investigate the neural correlates of deception. To explore the temporal course of neural activity underlying deception, we recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) while participants were performing the Differentiation of Deception Paradigm (DDP) task to self- and other-referential information. Results showed that lying was associated with increased N1 (parietal-occipital area), N2 (frontal-central area) and decreased P3 (frontal-central area). Moreover, self-referential information elicited larger P2 and P3 compared with other-referential information. Finally, the interaction between stimulus and response types on N2 and P3 suggested that lying about self-referential information is more difficult than lying about other-referential information. These results revealed a temporal course of neural activity regarding executive function underlying deception, which complemented the current understanding of deception from the spatial dimensions.

Research Highlights► Lying was associated with increased N1, N2 and decreased P3 compared with truth. ► Self processing elicited larger P2 and P3 compared with others' processing. ► Interaction between stimulus and response types was found on N2 and P3.