决策中后悔的ERP研究

采用运气轮博弈范式探讨后悔的加工时程。分析决策正误的ERPs发现,200～300ms决策错误比正确诱发更为负走向的波,表现为典型的FRN（feedback-related negativity, FRN）;300～400ms决策正确比错误诱发更大的P300。500～900ms决策正确比错误诱发更大的LPC（late positive component, LPC）,并表现出明显的右半球优势效应。上述结果支持了FRN加工反馈刺激显著性信息和P300加工反馈刺激效价的观点,研究发现后悔与LPC可能具有密切关联。将来研究须在控制得失程度基础上,考察FRN、P300和LPC与效价、得失及得失程度和情绪体验的关系。     

反馈负波及其理论解释

反馈负波（feedback related negativity, FRN）是由代表行为错误或失去金钱等负性反馈刺激诱发的一种脑电波成分,出现在刺激呈现后250~300ms左右,偶极子源定位发现这一成分产生于前扣带回附近。对于FRN的功能意义的解释主要有强化学习理论和情绪动机假说,前者认为FRN反映的是神经系统对反馈刺激的认知加工过程,而后者认为FRN反映的是对情绪动机意义的评价过程。两种理论框架下还有一些目前研究仍待解决的问题,可能是未来研究的方向     

错误相关负波（ERN）在精神病理学研究中的应用

错误相关负波（error-related negativity, ERN）是由行为错误诱发的一种脑电波成分,最大峰值在错误反应之后的50ms左右,偶极子源定位于前扣带回（anterior cingulate cortex, ACC）附近。错误加工（error processing）的经典研究范式中出现的ERN成分可能反映了ACC具有错误检测、冲突监控、强化学习、情绪动机等功能。大量研究表明过度的和不足的错误相关脑活动（hyperactive and hypoactive error processing）可能分别与精神病理学的内化性和外化性障碍（internalizing and externalizing disorders）相关联。内化性和外化性障碍的内表型（endophenotype）的研究,还存在许多值得进一步探索的问题。     

错误相关负电位（ERN）及其理论解释

错误动作发生后,在个体额叶中部可观察到一个明显的负相电位偏移,这称为“错误相关负电位”（error related negativity,ERN）。有研究者提出了“强化学习理论”,认为ERN反映了当前行为结果与预期之间的差异。与此不同的是“冲突监控理论”,认为ERN与反应冲突有关。还有研究者提出了“失匹配理论”,强调实际反应的神经表征（错误反应）与当前任务所要求的反应表征的差异产生了ERN。在阐述ERN的理论解释基础上,对三者之间的关系进行了分析与整合。     

错误相关负波的神经起源及其影响因素

与个体做出错误反应相伴的错误相关ERP成分叫错误相关负波 (error-related negativity, ERN),当前冲突监控理论、表征失匹配理论和强化学习理论从不同的角度对ERN的神经机制进行解释,各理论间并非完全相互排斥。目前大部分研究认为ERN定位于扣带回,部分研究则出现其它脑区的激活,然而,扣带回与其它脑区存在复杂的神经功能联系,ERN 电位很可能是多个脑区电活动在头颅的综合表现,而非某一脑区的单独表现。ERN的神经机制受到实验任务、被试年龄及其意识水平等因素的影响。未来要推动实验室研究走向临床应用,发现与诊断脑电波异常的病人和毒品易复吸人群。     

失匹配负波研究的主要争论与动向

失匹配负波(MMN)是小概率刺激ERP减大概率刺激ERP的差异负波,可由Oddball范式和多特征选择范式获得。近年研究发现MMN不仅存在于听觉通道,还存在于其他通道,且其波幅可反映自动加工,潜伏期则可反映控制加工。MMN可能反映与错误负波ERN相同或相似的加工过程,MMN反映社会认知加工的观点还需进一步研究。未来研究需整合高时间和空间精度技术,从行为和认知神经科学多层面来开展复杂社会刺激的研究,以便阐明MMN可能反映社会认知加工的性质,并在此基础上增强对MMN与ERN的比较研究。     

反馈负波及其近10年理论解释

个体决策后的反馈对随后的结果监控和行为调整起着至关重要的作用。事件相关脑电位研究发现, 反馈负波(feedback-related negativity, FRN)是与决策后反馈加工过程紧密相关的脑电成分。近10年来关于FRN的理论解释, 在最初经典的强化学习理论和情绪动机假说的基础上又提出了反应-结果的预测模型、奖赏正波理论以及积极情绪启动模型。未来的研究应该立足于大样本, 采用互补的研究手段和多样的分析技术来探讨FRN的心理意义; 同时考虑将FRN作为奖赏加工的脑电指标, 研究社会互动情境下的人类行为。     

错误信息特征对学科领域知识丰富性不同学生学习的错误监控之影响

采用Go/No-Go范式,26名中学生参与实验。考察在基于主体错误反应和基于客体错误信息两类错误监控条件下,学科领域知识教学实验组和对照组对不同类型错误信息监控的脑电成分。结果显示,(1) 错误反应监控条件下,实验组对要义特征的错误反应诱发的ERN较字面特征的更负,而对照组则相反。(2) 错误信息监控条件下,两组学生均表现出监控字面特征错误诱发的ERN波幅较监控要义特征错误的更大。(3) 两种监控条件均表现出实验组产生的ERN波形较对照组的更负。表明：虽然两类监控条件均能诱发明显的ERN,但其影响因素并不相同：基于主体错误反应的监控主要受个体对其错误加工深度的影响;基于客体错误信息的监控则受错误信息的清晰性影响。     

反馈相关负波与社会关系认知

反馈相关负波(feedback-related negativity, FRN)是人类进行结果评价时诱发的一个重要的脑电负成分, 出现在反馈刺激后200~300ms间。作为社会认知研究的可视化指标和工具, 它在社会关系认知中有着十分重要的作用。研究从社会关系与反映并表征社会关系的社会规范两方面阐述了反馈相关负波在社会关系认知中的作用。前者着重阐述了反馈相关负波在作为独立个体所扮演的社会角色和人际关系中的作用, 后者主要介绍了反馈相关负波在分配公平和责任规范中的作用。未来研究需进一步联合其他脑电成分(如P300), 采用更严密的实验设计和研究范式来探讨不同人际亲密度个体在责任分摊过程中的认知神经过程及其在独立担责情况下责任绝对额度对其结果评价和社会关系认知的影响。     

反馈相关ERP成分的参照点效应

采用投注—反馈金钱赌博任务具体操作了在结果评价中被试可能采用的参照点,试图进一步探究大脑监控系统是如何对事件的好、坏以及好坏程度进行评定的。实验结果表明,不管是Feedback-related negativity (FRN)还是P300,和赌注相差较小的中间三种反馈诱发的波幅差异不显著,和赌注相差较大的两边两种反馈诱发的波幅和中间三种反馈差异显著。该结果说明,反馈相关ERP成分不是反映了对绝对信息的加工,而是反映了以赌注所在的区间为参照点的相对信息的加工。研究进一步从不同侧面表明FRN所代表的效价评价的参照点效应,同时首次从神经机制上揭示了P300所代表的数量加工的参照点效应     

Oops!.. I did it again: an ERP and behavioral study of double-errors

To understand the sequealae of action monitoring failures, most previous studies have focused on neural (e.g., the ERN and Pe) and behavioral (e.g., post-error slowing) measures associated with correct trials that precede and follow errors. However, trials that precede and follow errors are not always correct, and no study to date has examined RT and ERP indices in double-error sequences that could shed additional light on multiple response monitoring failures. In the present study, we examined ERP and behavioral data surrounding double-errors to explore the possibility that double-errors could either result from the failed detection of the first error, or from a reduction in compensatory post-error behavioral adjustments. Results indicate a normal ERN and Pe surrounding double-errors; however, errors that followed errors were characterized by reduced post-error reaction time slowing. These data are discussed in terms of existing response monitoring data, and in terms of the utility of double-errors to shed light on distinct types of response monitoring failures.     

Anxiety and error monitoring: Increased error sensitivity or altered expectations?

This study tested the prediction that the error-related negativity (ERN), a physiological measure of error monitoring, would be enhanced in anxious individuals, particularly in conditions with threatening cues. Participants made gender judgments about faces whose expressions were either happy, angry, or neutral. Replicating prior studies, midline scalp negativities were greater following errors than following correct responses. In addition, state anxiety interacted with facial expression to predict ERN amplitudes. Counter to predictions, participants high in state anxiety displayed smaller ERNs for angry-face blocks and larger ERNs for happy-face blocks, compared to less anxious participants. These results are inconsistent with the simple notion that anxiety enhances error sensitivity globally. Rather, we interpret the findings within an expectancy violation framework, in which anxious participants have altered expectations for success and failure in the context of happy and angry facial cues, with greater ERN amplitudes when expectations are violated.     

ERP correlates of performance monitoring in elderly

Previous studies on performance monitoring repeatedly found attenuated error-related negativities (Ne/ERN) in elderly, while findings for the correct-related negativity (Nc/CRN) are inconsistent. The present study aimed at clarifying inconsistent Nc/CRN results in elderly. Therefore, a refined design was employed to control for potential influences on the Nc/CRN, namely decision uncertainty and partial error processing. Further, we intended to study Nc/CRN variations with trial compatibility that were found in previous studies for younger but not for older adults. Results revealed increased Nc/CRN and decreased Ne/ERN amplitudes in older compared to younger adults. While the Ne/ERN was larger than the Nc/CRN in younger adults, both components were similar-sized in older adults. Further, a modulation of Nc/CRN amplitudes between compatible and incompatible trials was observed in younger adults, but was absent in older adults. Reduced differentiation of response-related negativities with response accuracy or stimulus compatibility in elderly suggests a reduced adaptation of associated processes to changing demands. Further, this might also point to different processes reflected by Nc/CRN and Ne/ERN and to reduced error-specific monitoring but increased general or strategic monitoring in elderly.     

A computational account of altered error processing in older age: Dopamine and the error-related negativity

When participants commit errors or receive feedback signaling that they have made an error, a negative brain potential is elicited. According to Holroyd and Coles’s (in press) neurocomputational model of error processing, this error-related negativity (ERN) is elicited when the brain first detects that the consequences of an action are worse than expected. To study age-related changes in error processing, we obtained performance and ERN measures of younger and high-functioning older adults. Experiment 1 demonstrated reduced ERN amplitudes in older adults in the context of otherwise intact brain potentials. This result could not be attributed to uncertainty about the required response in older adults. Experiment 2 revealed impaired performance and reduced response- and feedback-related ERNs of older adults in a probabilistic learning task. These age changes could be simulated by manipulation of a single parameter of the neurocomputational model, this manipulation corresponding to weakened phasic activity of the mesencephalic dopamine system.     

Alterations in error-related brain activity and post-error behavior over time

This study examines the relation between the error-related negativity (ERN) and post-error behavior over time in healthy young adults (N=61). Event-related brain potentials were collected during two sessions of an identical flanker task. Results indicated changes in ERN and post-error accuracy were related across task sessions, with more negative ERN associated with greater improvements in post-error accuracy. This relationship was independent of any cross-sectional relationships between overall task performance, individual difference factors, including personality and self-efficacy, and indices of self-regulatory action monitoring. These results indicate that the relation between ERN and post-error accuracy remains intact and consistent regardless of variation in this set of individual difference factors previously associated with both of these indices of self-regulatory action monitoring, providing support for the strength, robustness, and persistence of this relationship in the process of adaptively controlling behavior to enhance task performance.     

Effects of task-relevant incentives on the electrophysiological correlates of error processing in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with action-monitoring dysfunction—particularly, disrupted error processing. Whether such dysregulation is further modulated by task incentives is largely unknown. The goal of this study was to investigate possible dysfunctions in error processing in MDD as a function of varying task incentives and clinical profile. To this end, we recorded the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) in 18 MDD participants and 18 healthy controls during a Stroop task that intermixed no-incentive and reward trials. Relative to controls, MDD participants showed (1) larger ERN irrespective of task incentives, and (2) reduced Pe during reward (but not no-incentive) trials. Moreover, among MDD participants, Pe amplitudes were negatively correlated with depression severity and clinical symptoms. The present findings highlight distinct effects of task incentives on electrophysiological components of error processing and are interpreted within current theories of action monitoring and incentive processing in depression.     

An Experimental Therapeutics Approach to the Development of a Novel Computerized Treatment Targeting Error-Related Brain Activity in Young Children

In the current study, we utilize an experimental medicine approach to examine the extent to which a single-session, computerized intervention impacts a transdiagnostic neural marker of risk (i.e., the error-related negativity [ERN]) in 70 children between the ages of 6 and 9 years. The ERN is a deflection in the event-related potential occurring after an individual makes a mistake on a lab-based task and has been shown to be transdiagnostically associated with a variety of anxiety disorders (e.g., social anxiety, generalized anxiety), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depressive disorders in over 60 studies to date. Building on these findings, work has been done to link an increased ERN to negative reactions to, and avoidance of, making mistakes (i.e., error sensitivity). In the current study, we capitalize on this previous work by examining the extent to which a single-session, computerized intervention may engage the target of “error sensitivity” (measured by the ERN, as well as self-report of error sensitivity). We examine the convergence of multiple measures of the construct of “error sensitivity” (i.e., child self-report, parent report on child, and child electroencephalogram [EEG]). We also examine relationships between these three measures of “error sensitivity” and child anxiety symptoms. Overall, results suggested that treatment condition predicted changes in self-reported error sensitivity but not changes in ERN. Based on the lack of previous work in this area, we view this study as a novel, preliminary, first step toward using an experimental medicine approach to examine our ability to engage the target of the ERN (i.e., error sensitivity) early in development.