The Role of Feedback Valence in Modulating the Late Positive Component (LPC) during Probabilistic Reward Learning

D'souza, Charlotte (2024) The Role of Feedback Valence in Modulating the Late Positive Component (LPC) during Probabilistic Reward Learning. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Rewards are an affective phenomenon such that receiving one may elicit positive emotions whereas the absence of one, or punishment may evoke negative emotions. The Late Positive Component (LPC), a centro-parietal Event-Related Potential (ERP) peaking between 400 and 800 ms, has been extensively studied in emotional stimuli processing and, to a lesser extent, reward outcomes. In the present study, we investigated the role of feedback valence (positive versus negative outcomes) and the reward context of the task; either focusing on prospective gains or avoiding losses, in modulating the LPC as stimulus-reward associations are learned. Twenty-two participants completed a probabilistic reward learning task while EEG was recorded. Results indicated that the LPC was more pronounced in response to negative feedback, as evidenced by larger mean amplitudes, however, this sensitivity was not influenced by the reward context. Additionally, the LPC amplitudes were not significantly influenced by the learning process, and learning trajectories did not differ across conditions. The current findings highlight the role of assumed affective valence in reward-feedback processing and suggest that the LPC reflects a stable neural response to negative feedback independent of task context or learning dynamics.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Lorist, M.M. and Span, M.M.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Cognitive Psychology and Psychophysiology (CPP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2024 10:41
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2024 10:42
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4453

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