title: Context-sensitivity of the feedback-related negativity for zero-value feedback outcomes.
abstract: The present study investigated whether the same visual stimulus indicating zero-value feedback (€0) elicits feedback-related negativity (FRN) variation, depending on whether the outcomes correspond with expectations or not. Thirty-one volunteers performed a monetary incentive delay (MID) task while EEG was recorded. FRN amplitudes were comparable and more negative when zero-value outcome deviated from expectations than with expected gain or loss, supporting theories emphasising the impact of unexpectedness and salience on FRN amplitudes. Surprisingly, expected zero-value outcomes elicited the most negative FRNs. However, source localisation showed that such outcomes evoked less activation in cingulate areas than unexpected zero-value outcomes. Our study illustrates the context dependency of identical zero-value feedback stimuli. Moreover, the results indicate that the incentive cues in the MID task evoke different reward prediction error signals. These prediction signals differ in FRN amplitude and neuronal sources, and have to be considered in the design and interpretation of future studies.
authors.affiliation: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: daniela.pfabigan@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Daniela M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pfabigan
authors.affiliation: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: eva-maria.seidel@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.affiliation: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: katharina.paul@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: arvina.grahl@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Arvina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Haraldsgatan 1, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: uta.sailer@psy.gu.se.
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: rupert.lanzenberger@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzenberger
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: christian.windischberger@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Windischberger
authors.affiliation: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: claus.lamm@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Context dependency; FRN; P300; Reward prediction error signals; Zero-value outcomes; sLORETA