The Neural Correlates Of Expectancy Deviation Under Comparison And Reinforcement Sensitivity: An EPRs Study

A number of studies have recently used EPRs to investigate the mechanisms underlying error processing. The expectancy deviation happens when the external feedback is different from the internal expectancy. FRN is supposed to be the representative of expectancy deviation. While the Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory holds that FRN is sensitive to the aversive signal; and P3 to appetitive signal. Other studies have proposed that FRN is only mediated by feedback value.This paper is trying to look into the confirm the expectancy deviation's neural representative and how is the FRN effect, and try to find more about the meaning of these related components, by setting comparison conditions to test the performance.Method:Using ERPs technique, three experiments, Experiment 1&2 under self comparison, experiment 3 under social comparison. Exp 1 has two within subject factors:stimulus type(reward/punishment) and expectation- frustration(Y/N). Exp 2&3 two within-factors:stimulus type and compared condition(equality/ advantage/ disadvantage)Result:We found that punishment produce higher FRN, reward produce higher P3; high BIS individuals produce higher FRN when facing punishment signals; Expectation frustration with higher FRN; under social comparison, higher FRN and N350-550 with advantage and disadvantage when compared with equality condition.Conclusion:The correlation between BIS and FRN is confirmed; FRN is both confirmed to be the response of the stimulus value and the representative of expectancy-deviation; P3 may be the neural correlation with reward/equality; The social comparison has main effects that advantage and disadvantage condition with higher FRN and N350-550, compared to equality condition.FRN and N350-550 maybe have the same origin.