Error monitoring during reward and avoidance learning in high- and low-socialized individuals

Abstract

The error-related negativity (ERN) is a response-locked brain potential generated when individuals make mistakes during simple decision-making tasks. In the present study, we examined ERN under conditions of reward and punishment, among participants who scored extremely low or high on the socialization scale of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). Participants completed a forced-choice task, and were rewarded for correct responses in half the trials, and punished for incorrect responses in the remaining trials. A significant interaction between socialization (SO) and condition revealed that low-SO participants produced smaller ERNs during the punishment task than during the reward task, whereas high-SO participants produced similar ERNs in both conditions. Reaction time and electromyogram data essentially bolster the interpretation that the ERN effects reflect differences in error salience for high-SO and low-SO participants, and are consistent with the avoidance-learning deficits seen in psychopathy.

Smaller feedback ERN amplitudes during the BART are associated with a greater family history density of alcohol problems in treatment-naïve alcoholics

“…In the current study, F-ERN amplitude was not associated with symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. However, reduced R-ERNs have been reported in low-socialized individuals compared to high-socialized individuals (Dikman and Allen, 2000).…”

“…a Stroop or flanker task), the participant does not necessarily require feedback to know that he has made a mistake. In this case, an ERN occurs about 50-150ms after the erroneous response and is called a response-locked error-related negativity (R-ERN) [for example: (Dikman and Allen, 2000;Falkenstein et al, 2001;Hajcak and Simons, 2002)]. The R-ERN reflects low-level error recognition, as it is present even when individuals are not consciously aware of their errors (Nieuwenhuis et al, 2001).…”

Neural correlates of error-related learning deficits in individuals with psychopathy

“…It has been demonstrated that the performance of individuals with PP in certain learning paradigms is modulated by reward but not by punishment . Additionally, it has been reported that low socialized individuals (a trait closely related to PP) show diminished rERNs under conditions of punishment but not reward (Dikman & Allen, 2000). With regard to the current task, individuals with PP might have learned based on reward cues, but not on punishment cues, which leads to diminished learning performance as only some of the trials (the rewarded but not the punished) are used to adapt behaviour.…”

“…Until now, most studies either focused on individuals with behavioural patterns related to PP (Dikman & Allen, 2000 ;Hall et al 2007) or investigated aspects of error monitoring unrelated to learning (Munro et al 2007 ;Brazil et al 2009). An investigation of reward and avoidance learning in low socialized individuals (a concept related to PP ; Kosson & Newman, 1989) has shown diminished rERN amplitudes only in the punishment condition (Dikman & Allen, 2000). Another study demonstrated reduced rERN amplitudes in healthy individuals scoring high on externalizing psychopathology, a factor comparable to the behavioural deficit cluster in individuals with PP (Hall et al 2007).…”

Relationships between Salivary Estradiol and Components of Mental Rotation in Young Men

“…Error trials have been reported to be associated with faster responses than correct trials in a simple discrimination task (Dikman and Allen, 2000). The faster responses on error trials may be caused by impulsive responding.…”