Electrophysiological correlates of hypothesis testing.
Where and how the cortical areas are activated when a person receives the result of hypothesis testing is still unclear. By using a category induction task, this study provided participants with various batteries and asked them to learn which kind of batteries were charged. After learning, they were required to give a response to the probe stimuli. In each trial, two batteries were displayed sequentially, and a preliminary hypothesis could be formed based on the perceptual analysis of the batteries. Then, a third battery served to strengthen, reject, or maintain the former hypothesis was presented. The electrophysiological results revealed an increased late positive complexes when the hypothesis was rejected, reflecting a process of hypothesis evaluation and memory-context updating.
Li
Fuhong
F
School of Psychology, Southwest University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China.
Cao
Bihua
B
Lei
Yi
Y
Li
Hong
H
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult