title: Individual differences in epistemic motivation and brain conflict monitoring activity.
abstract: It is well documented that motivation toward closure (NFC), defined as a desire for a quick and unambiguous answer to a question and an aversion to uncertainty, is linked to more structured, rigid, and persistent cognitive styles. However, the neurocognitive correlates of NFC have never been tested. Thus, using event-related potentials, we examined the hypothesis that NFC is associated with the neurocognitive process for detecting discrepancies between response tendencies and higher level intentions. We found that greater NFC is associated with lower conflict-related anterior cingulate activity, suggesting lower sensitivity to cues for altering a habitual response pattern and lower sensitivity to committing errors. This study provides evidence that high NFC acts as a bulwark against anxiety-producing uncertainty and minimizes the experience of error.
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University, Poland. Electronic address: malgorzata.kossowska@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kossowska
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University, Poland.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Czarnek
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University, Poland.
authors.forename: Eligiusz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wronka
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University, Poland.
authors.forename: Miroslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wyczesany
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bukowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Conflict monitoring; Need for closure; Sensitivity to committing errors