Erratum: Reward feedback stimuli elicit high-beta EEG oscillations in human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Abstract

Reward-related feedback stimuli have been observed to elicit a burst of power in the beta frequency range over frontal areas of the human scalp. Recent discussions have suggested possible neural sources for this activity but there is a paucity of empirical evidence on the question. Here we recorded EEG from participants while they navigated a virtual T-maze to find monetary rewards. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the reward feedback stimuli elicited an increase in beta power (20–30 Hz) over a right-frontal area of the scalp. Source analysis indicated that this signal was produced in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). These findings align with previous observations of reward-related beta oscillations in the DLPFC in non-human primates. We speculate that increased power in the beta frequency range following reward receipt reflects the activation of task-related neural assemblies that encode the stimulus-response mapping in working memory.

Behavioural variability and cortical electrophysiological signals depend on recent outcomes during human reinforcement motor learning

“…In cognitive decision-making tasks, participants are often presented a finite number of available options, e.g. in gambling games (Cohen et al, 2007;HajiHosseini & Holroyd, 2015). Since there is no direct association between the values of the different options, choosing an option does not inform about the value of the other options in these tasks.…”

“…This analysis was run on the dataset encompassing all trials independent of previous outcomes. Data were visually inspected by plotting selected sensors and topographical plots on pre-specified time windows (250 -550 ms) on the basis of previous studies (Cohen et al, 2007;Marco-Pallares et al, 2008;HajiHosseini et al, 2012;Luft, 2014;HajiHosseini & Holroyd, 2015;Marco-Pallares et al, 2015).…”

“…These signals drive learning based on feedback on outcome and serve as the basis for future behavioural adjustments. A variety of neural circuits in subcortical and cortical systems have been implicated in this context (Watanabe, 1996;Knutson et al, 2000;Schultz, 2000;Schall et al, 2002;Cohen et al, 2007;Histed et al, 2009;Narayanan et al, 2013;HajiHosseini & Holroyd, 2015;Levy et al, 2020).…”

“…Lately, a growing body of evidence suggests that neural circuits of the prefrontal cortex contribute to reward-based learning in monkeys (Watanabe, 1996;Kim & Shadlen, 1999;Barraclough et al, 2004;Seo & Lee, 2008;Histed et al, 2009) and humans (Akitsuki et al, 2003;Cohen et al, 2007;Marco-Pallares et al, 2008;HajiHosseini et al, 2012;HajiHosseini & Holroyd, 2015). Modulations of neural oscillations over frontal cortical areas can be observed after outcome information in decision-making tasks potentially reflecting outcome-guided learning (Luft, 2014).…”

Serotonergic modulation of ‘waiting impulsivity’ is mediated by the impulsivity phenotype in humans

“… 55 Similar observations were made in animals and the infralimbic cortex. 56 , 57 , 58 The additional dorsolateral PFC recruitment, however, seems to be rather specific to human and has been discussed in the context of reward feedback evaluation 59 , 60 and self-regulatory processes in response to rewarding stimuli. 61 Finally, frontal activation subsumed also cingulate regions (prelimbic cortex) and predominantly in the impulsivity-associated conditions ‘cue' and ‘target'.…”