Objective To investigate the features of error-monitoring function in healthy adults with event-related potentials (ERP). Methods Sixty-two righthanded healthy adults (33 males and 29 females) aged between 19 and 50 years were enrolled, with the mean age of (29.6±6.6) years and mean education experience of (16.7±2.0) years. Error-related negativity (ERN) in frontal zone (Fz), central zone (Cz), left central zone (C3), right central zone (C4) and parietal zone (Pz) was detected with ERP instrument (Brain Products, Germany), and the latencies and wave amplitudes of ERN were statistically analysed. Results A negative wave was detected in each scalp electrode about 50 ms after the stimuli presented, and the ERN waveform was stable. Statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in the latencies and wave amplitudes of ERN between C3 and C4 (P>0.05). In Fz, Cz and Pz, there was no significant difference in the latencies and wave amplitudes of ERN between males and females (P>0.05). The wave amplitudes of ERN in Fz and Cz were significantly positively related to the age of subjects (r=0.282, P=0.027; r=0.250, P=0.049). Conclusion ERN is stable and reliable in healthy adults. As a clinically valuable ERP component, ERN can be used in clinical practice of department of Neurology and Psychiatry.