title: Resting-state EEG theta activity and risk learning: sensitivity to reward or punishment?
abstract: Increased theta (4-7 Hz)-beta (13-30 Hz) power ratio in resting state electroencephalography (EEG) has been associated with risky disadvantageous decision making and with impaired reinforcement learning. However, the specific contributions of theta and beta power in risky decision making remain unclear. The first aim of the present study was to replicate the earlier found relationship and examine the specific contributions of theta and beta power in risky decision making using the Iowa Gambling Task. The second aim of the study was to examine whether the relation were associated with differences in reward or punishment sensitivity. We replicated the earlier found relationship by showing a positive association between theta/beta ratio and risky decision making. This correlation was mainly driven by theta oscillations. Furthermore, theta power correlated with reward motivated learning, but not with punishment learning. The present results replicate and extend earlier findings by providing novel insights into the relation between thetabeta ratios and risky decision making. Specifically, findings show that resting-state theta activity is correlated with reinforcement learning, and that this association may be explained by differences in reward sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore. Electronic address: stijnmassar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stijn A A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Massar
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.l.kenemans@uu.nl.
authors.forename: J Leon
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kenemans
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: d.schutter@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Dennis J L G
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schutter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011678:Punishment; D012146:Rest; D012201:Reward; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Decision-making; Reinforcement learning; Resting-state EEG; Reward–punishment sensitivity; Theta/beta ratio