title: Absorbed in the task: Personality measures predict engagement during task performance as tracked by error negativity and asymmetrical frontal activity.
abstract: We hypothesized that interactions between traits and context predict task engagement, as measured by the amplitude of the error-related negativity (ERN), performance, and relative frontal activity asymmetry (RFA). In Study 1, we found that drive for reward, absorption, and constraint independently predicted self-reported persistence. We hypothesized that, during a prolonged monotonous task, absorption would predict initial ERN amplitudes, constraint would delay declines in ERN amplitudes and deterioration of performance, and drive for reward would predict left RFA when a reward could be obtained. Study 2, employing EEG recordings, confirmed our predictions. The results showed that most traits that have in previous research been related to ERN amplitudes have a relationship with the motivational trait persistence in common. In addition, trait-context combinations that are likely associated with increased engagement predict larger ERN amplitudes and RFA. Together, these results support the hypothesis that engagement may be a common underlying factor predicting ERN amplitude.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, The Netherlands. m.tops@rug.nl
authors.forename: Mattie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tops
authors.forename: Maarten A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boksem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D016014:Linear Models; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009862:Online Systems; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult