The cognitive processes related to deceptive responding

The cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying deception were studied using event-related brain potential (ERP) technique. To induce the ecologically valid deception, we applied a simulated cheating task with monetary temptation, in which the participants decided for themselves whether or not to lie for the potential rewards. The execution of the deliberated response was delayed by an imperative signal. The analysis of the imperative-locked ERPs found that the actual deceptive response was accompanied by the greater right frontal dominant N2 and the greater positive slow wave (PSW) than the truthful condition. These results suggested that deceptive responding involves executive processes including conflict monitoring and response inhibition. Moreover, the deception might be associated with processing of increased affective significance of the outcomes or increased cognitive demanding.