Abstract
Magnitude is a critical feature of outcomes. In the present study, two event-related potential (ERP) experiments were implemented to explore the neural substrates of outcome magnitude processing. In Experiment 1, we used an adapted gambling paradigm where physical area symbols were set to represent potential relative outcome magnitudes in order to exclude the possibility that the participants would be ignorant of the magnitudes. The context was manipulated as total monetary amount: ¥4 and ¥40. In these two contexts, the relative outcome magnitudes were ¥1 versus ¥3, and ¥10 versus ¥30, respectively. Experiment 2, which provided two area symbols with similar outcome magnitudes, was conducted to exclude the possible interpretation of physical area symbol for magnitude effect of feedback–related negativity (FRN) in Experiment 1. Our results showed that FRN responded to the relative outcome magnitude but not to the context or area symbol, with larger amplitudes for relatively small outcomes. A larger FRN effect (the difference between losses and wins) was found for relatively large outcomes than relatively small outcomes. Relatively large outcomes evoked greater positive ERP waves (P300) than relatively small outcomes. Furthermore, relatively large outcomes in a high amount context elicited a larger P300 than those in a low amount context. The current study indicated that FRN is sensitive to variations in magnitude. Moreover, relative magnitude was integrated in both the early and late stages of feedback processing, while the monetary amount context was processed only in the late stage of feedback processing.
Highlights
Learning the association between behavioral response and their consequences plays a key role in enabling individuals to flexibly adapt to various environmental demands [1,2,3,4]
In order to examine whether the preceding result affected the action taken by each participant, we calculated the proportions of choices made by a given subject after the eight possible outcomes
To examine whether the preceding result influenced the action taken by each participant, we analyzed the response times (RTs) for making the initial choice in the trial following presentation of one of the four possible outcomes
Summary
Learning the association between behavioral response and their consequences plays a key role in enabling individuals to flexibly adapt to various environmental demands [1,2,3,4]. Apart from valence, outcome magnitude, namely, the degree of goodness or badness associated with an outcome, is important, and has been previously investigated [5,6,7,8]. Stimuli such as stock quotation boards and performance reports can affect people’s nerves in light of their implications regarding economic costs and benefits. More pleasant feelings are associated with a big win, while negative feelings are associated with a big loss. Markowitz (1952) offered two choices with different sizes of profits and losses. The so-called outcome magnitude effect leaves the question of whether the mechanisms underlying outcome magnitude and valence processing are identical
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