0003, 5.97 vs 5.48 μV) and RC (p < .0001, 5.97 vs 5.30 μV) conditions. There was no difference between the SC and RC conditions (p = .3035). There was a significant group effect for the onset [F(1,34) = 11.43, p = .0018] and offset [F(1,34) = 4.84, p = .0348] of the P3b peak latency. Tukey post hoc contrasts revealed an earlier onset by 76 msec in younger adults when compared to middle-aged adults (p = .0019, 298 vs 374 msec). In terms of offset, Tukey Post hoc contrasts revealed that younger adults had an earlier offset by 67 msec compared to middle-aged adults (p = .0348, 601 vs 668 msec). Additionally there was a significant congruency effect in the offset of

the P3b peak latency [F(2,68) = 4.76, ɛ = .938, p = .0133]. Tukey post hocs revealed that offset in condition RC was significantly later than this website Selleckchem Z-VAD-FMK congruent offset (p = .0082, 665 vs 602). There was no significant interaction of group × congruency in the P3b offset [F(2,68) = 1.452, p = .2412]. In terms of onset there was no significant main effect of congruency [F(2,68) = .3711, p = .6913] and no interaction

[F(2,68) = .3711, p = .6913]. Fig. 2 depicts the grand average raw ERP of a pool of centro-parietal electrodes showing the N450 between 300 and 550 msec. There was a significant congruency effect in the mean amplitude of the raw ERPs at this time range [F(2,102) = 12.81, ɛ = .947, p < .0001]. Tukey post hocs revealed that the amplitude of the congruent condition was significantly more positive than the SC (p = .0013, 3.37 vs 3.02 μV) and RC (p < .0001, 3.37 vs 2.91 μV) conditions. There was no significant main effect of group [F(2,51) = 2.496, p = .0923] and no interaction [F(4,102) = .943, p = .4420]. Fig. 4 shows the N450 difference waves. ANOVA compared the mean amplitude of the N450 difference waves [i.e., RC − congruent (general conflict), SC − congruent,

RC − SC]. A significant main effect of congruency was found Liothyronine Sodium [F(2,102) = 3.73, ɛ = .580, p < .05]. Post hoc Tukey contrasts revealed that the mean amplitude of RC − CON (general conflict) difference wave was significantly more negative than the RC − SC difference wave (p = .0232, −.46 vs −.11 μV). The SC − CON difference wave was also examined however there were no significant differences with RC − CON or RC − SC difference waves (p > .05). Additionally there was no main effect of group [F(2,51) = 1.118, p = .3347] and no interaction [F(4,102) = .378, p = .5057]. Fig. 5 shows the topographies of the N450 difference waves in each group. A topographical analysis of three different representative electrode pools was performed. There were no significant group × pool differences in stimulus conflict detection (in SC − congruent difference waves) [F(4,102) = .237, e = .9201, p = .9040]. However in the RC − SC difference wave there was a significant group × pool interaction [F(4,102) = 4.97, ɛ = .949, p = .0013]. The left, central and right pools significantly differed between the three groups.