Abstract
We investigated whether negative feedback with information could benefit both behavioral and neural responses. Fifteen participants were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while receiving various feedbacks in a novel perceptual task. Behavioral data showed that reaction times of task performance were faster after receiving negative informative feedback compared to negative confirmatory feedback. The fMRI analysis of the interaction contrast between feedback type (informative vs. confirmatory) and valence (negative vs. positive) showed greater activation in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) and the ventral striatum in response to negative informative compared to confirmatory feedback. The psychophysiological interactions (PPI) analyses showed that the vlPFC activation was positively correlated with the amygdala and the rostral cingulate zone (RCZ). The ventral striatum activation was negatively correlated with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). These results suggest that negative but informative feedback benefits subsequent performance and its primary function is to elicit positive prediction error (instructive signal) and to induce cognitive control to guide subsequent goal-directed behavior.
Highlights
Feedback is a direct way to improve learner’s performance by providing relevant and useful information
The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether negative feedback with information can benefit learning and performance
Behavioral data showed that reaction times of task performance were faster after receiving positive confirmatory feedback compared to confirmatory feedback
Summary
Feedback is a direct way to improve learner’s performance by providing relevant and useful information. Feedback facilitates learning and motivation because it helps the learner monitor performance and adjust subsequent behavior [1]. Most psychological theories of learning and motivation posit that positive feedback generates a positive affect and fosters motivation whereas negative feedback does the opposite [2,3]. Feedback processing can be viewed from two different perspectives: reinforcement learning (focusing on positive valence of feedback) and cognitive (cybernetic) model of information processing (focusing on negative valence of feedback). According to the reinforcement learning perspective, people are strongly motivated to approach appetitive stimuli (i.e., rewards) and avoid aversive stimuli (i.e., punishment) [4]. Because positive feedback functions as an appetitive stimulus, it is likely to reinforce the target behavior by increasing the frequency with which this behavior is approached
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
