Reward feedback stimuli elicit high-beta EEG oscillations in human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
Reward-related feedback stimuli have been observed to elicit a burst of power in the beta frequency range over frontal areas of the human scalp. Recent discussions have suggested possible neural sources for this activity but there is a paucity of empirical evidence on the question. Here we recorded EEG from participants while they navigated a virtual T-maze to find monetary rewards. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the reward feedback stimuli elicited an increase in beta power (20-30 Hz) over a right-frontal area of the scalp. Source analysis indicated that this signal was produced in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). These findings align with previous observations of reward-related beta oscillations in the DLPFC in non-human primates. We speculate that increased power in the beta frequency range following reward receipt reflects the activation of task-related neural assemblies that encode the stimulus-response mapping in working memory.
PhD Student, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
Azadeh
A
HajiHosseini
Azadeh Haji
AH
Hosseini
Professor and Canada Research Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
Clay B
CB
Holroyd
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult