Study On The Time Of Outcome Prediction And Evaluation During Prosocial-helping Decision Making

Prosocial-helping decision is the decision-making process in which decision makers are willing to help others and act according to their prediction and beliefs.The prediction and evaluation of decision-making outcome are important stages in the decision-making process.Studies have identified neurophysiological indicators in risk decision making related to outcome expectation and evaluation processing.In the framework of social decision-making,this study draws on the risk decision-making paradigm and combines event-related potential(ERP)to examine the dynamic time characteristics of the brain when individuals anticipate and evaluate the outcome of helping behavior.The association between neurophysiological indicators and actual helping behavior is further explored.This study was composed of two experiments.By manipulating the valence of outcome feedback(positive/negative),the first experiment investigated the neural correlates of outcome evaluation and its gender differences.The correlations between ERPs and actual helping behaviors were also explored.In the second experiment,the neural correlates of outcome prediction and evaluation were explored by using a 2(outcome prediction,positive/negative)×2(outcome feedback,positive/negative)within-subject design.The behavioral results showed that:(1)Compare with the negative outcome prediction,the participants’willingness for help under positive prediction was significantly higher.(2)The participants had the highest satisfaction with positive feedback under positive prediction and the lowest satisfaction with negative feedback under positive prediction.The ERP results showed that:(1)During the outcome prediction stage,the negative outcome prediction induced more negative N1 and larger LPC than the positive outcome prediction.(2)During the outcome evaluation stage,compared to the positive feedback,the negative feedback induced more negative N1 and FRN,as well as smaller P3.(3)Both the amplitudes of FRN and P3 showed significant interactions between the outcome prediction and the outcome feedback.Further analysis showed that compared with other conditions,the condition of positive prediction with negative feedback induced the most negative FRN and the smallest P3.(4)It was found that the FRN amplitude induced by negative feedback and P3 amplitude induced by positive feedback were significantly correlated with the actual donation amount of the participants.The above results have clarified the time course of outcome prediction and evaluation in prosocial-helping decision making.During the outcome prediction of helping decision-making,the influences of the prediction’s valence on individuals are reflected by the early N1 related to attention attraction and the late LPC related to emotional arousal and cognitive resource.During the outcome evaluation of decision-making,first,the amplitudes of N1 showed the early attention bias to negative outcomes.Secondly,the FRN and P3 reflected the early and late evaluation for the outcomes,separately.Last but not least,the FRN amplitude induced by negative feedback and P3 amplitude induced by positive feedback were significantly correlated with the actual helping behavior.This study reveals the processing of the prediction and evaluation of prosocial-helping outcomes and its correlation with helping behavior,which is a good complement to the research related in the field of decision-making.In addition,enhancing the positive expectations of helping others can promote more helping behaviors and help us build more self-confidence.It also can help to carry forward and pass on the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation and build a harmonious society.