Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies
Both adults and children learn through feedback to associate environmental events and choices with reward, a process known as reinforcement learning (RL). However, tasks to assess RL-related neurocognitive processes in children have been limited. This study validated a child version of the Probabili...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1460584/full |
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| author | Yu Sun Chung Yu Sun Chung Berry van den Berg Kenneth C. Roberts Armen Bagdasarov Marty G. Woldorff Marty G. Woldorff Michael S. Gaffrey Michael S. Gaffrey Michael S. Gaffrey |
| author_facet | Yu Sun Chung Yu Sun Chung Berry van den Berg Kenneth C. Roberts Armen Bagdasarov Marty G. Woldorff Marty G. Woldorff Michael S. Gaffrey Michael S. Gaffrey Michael S. Gaffrey |
| author_sort | Yu Sun Chung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Both adults and children learn through feedback to associate environmental events and choices with reward, a process known as reinforcement learning (RL). However, tasks to assess RL-related neurocognitive processes in children have been limited. This study validated a child version of the Probabilistic Reward Learning task in preadolescents (8–12 years) while recording event-related-potential (ERPs), focusing on: (1) reward-feedback sensitivity (frontal Reward-related Positivity, RewP), (2) late attention-related responses to feedback (parietal P300), and (3) attentional shifting toward favored stimuli (N2pc). Behaviorally, as expected, preadolescents could learn stimulus–reward outcome associations, but with varying performance levels. Poor learners showed greater RewP amplitudes compared to good learners. Learning strategies (i.e., Win-Lose-Stay-Shift) were reflected by feedback-elicited P300 amplitudes. Lastly, attention shifted toward to-be-chosen stimuli, as evidenced by the N2pc, but not toward more highly rewarded stimuli as in adults. These findings provide novel insights into the neural processes underlying RL in preadolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f327490e82c942dabd7f38f75c5d3112 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-f327490e82c942dabd7f38f75c5d31122025-01-30T06:22:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-01-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.14605841460584Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategiesYu Sun Chung0Yu Sun Chung1Berry van den Berg2Kenneth C. Roberts3Armen Bagdasarov4Marty G. Woldorff5Marty G. Woldorff6Michael S. Gaffrey7Michael S. Gaffrey8Michael S. Gaffrey9Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, Kean University, Union, NJ, United StatesExperimental Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsCenter for Cognitive Neuroscience, Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United StatesCenter for Cognitive Neuroscience, Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United StatesChildren’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesDivision of Pediatric Psychology and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesBoth adults and children learn through feedback to associate environmental events and choices with reward, a process known as reinforcement learning (RL). However, tasks to assess RL-related neurocognitive processes in children have been limited. This study validated a child version of the Probabilistic Reward Learning task in preadolescents (8–12 years) while recording event-related-potential (ERPs), focusing on: (1) reward-feedback sensitivity (frontal Reward-related Positivity, RewP), (2) late attention-related responses to feedback (parietal P300), and (3) attentional shifting toward favored stimuli (N2pc). Behaviorally, as expected, preadolescents could learn stimulus–reward outcome associations, but with varying performance levels. Poor learners showed greater RewP amplitudes compared to good learners. Learning strategies (i.e., Win-Lose-Stay-Shift) were reflected by feedback-elicited P300 amplitudes. Lastly, attention shifted toward to-be-chosen stimuli, as evidenced by the N2pc, but not toward more highly rewarded stimuli as in adults. These findings provide novel insights into the neural processes underlying RL in preadolescents.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1460584/fullreinforcement learningreward-related positivityattentionN2pcP300win-stay-lose-switch strategy |
| spellingShingle | Yu Sun Chung Yu Sun Chung Berry van den Berg Kenneth C. Roberts Armen Bagdasarov Marty G. Woldorff Marty G. Woldorff Michael S. Gaffrey Michael S. Gaffrey Michael S. Gaffrey Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reinforcement learning reward-related positivity attention N2pc P300 win-stay-lose-switch strategy |
| title | Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies |
| title_full | Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies |
| title_fullStr | Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies |
| title_short | Electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward-learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies |
| title_sort | electrical brain activations in preadolescents during a probabilistic reward learning task reflect cognitive processes and behavior strategies |
| topic | reinforcement learning reward-related positivity attention N2pc P300 win-stay-lose-switch strategy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1460584/full |
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