Subjective and Response‐Related Determinants of CNV Amplitude

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Abstract
The effect on contingent negative variation (CNV) of varying the difficulty of obtaining reaction time (RT) feedback and the relationship of CNV and RT were studied. Subjects (Ss) were run in a reaction‐time‐foreperiod experiment with 4 conditions of varying RT feedback duration. Subjective reactions to the experiment were recorded by Ss on a questionnaire and were divided by the experimenters into two highly significant sets of mean CNVs based on the most “positive’ and most “negative’ responses to the conditions. CNVs and their associated RTs were analyzed, and a significant rank order correlation over all Ss showed there was a trend for individuals with faster RTs to have larger CNVs. Individual correlations were low and highly variable. Only the very slowest RTs were associated with small CNVs. The failure of explicit RT feedback to have any effect upon CNV amplitude is in agreement with previous studies, and the significant association of CNV amplitude with written reactions of Ss might prove a useful tool for further CNV analysis. The RT data indicated that CNVs and RTs reflect relatively independent functions and that very slow RTs may reflect qualitative changes in S's psychological state which affect both RT and CNV; and such trials might appropriately be eliminated from CNV data analysis.