Revisiting the electrophysiological correlates of valence and expectancy in reward processing – A multi-lab replication

Two event-related brain potential (ERP) components, the frontocentral feedback-related negativity (FRN) and the posterior P300, are key in feedback processing. The FRN typically exhibits greater amplitude in response to negative and unexpected outcomes, whereas the P300 is generally more pronounced for positive outcomes. In an influential ERP study, Hajcak et al., (2005) manipulated outcome valence and expectancy in a guessing task. They found the FRN was larger for negative outcomes regardless of expectancy, and the P300 larger for unexpected outcomes regardless of valence. These findings challenged the dominant Reinforcement Learning Theory of the ERN. We aimed to replicate these results within the #EEGManyLabs project (Pavlov et al., 2021) across thirteen labs. Our replication, including robustness tests, a PCA and Bayesian models, found that both FRN and P300 were significantly modulated by outcome valence and expectancy: FRN amplitudes (no-reward - reward) were largest for unexpected outcomes, and P300 amplitudes were largest for reward outcomes. These results were consistent across different methods and analyses. Although our findings only partially replicate the original study, they underscore the complexity of feedback processing and demonstrate how aspects of Reinforcement Learning Theory may apply to the P300 component, reinforcing the need for rigorous ERP research methodologies.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cortex
Published
2025-01-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2024.12.017
Citations
7
Primary Topic
Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
10.02

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Revisiting the electrophysiological correlates of valence and expectancy in reward processing – A multi-lab replication

Annakarina Mundorf, Sebastian Peter Korinth, Raoul Wüllhorst, Yuri G. Pavlov et al.
7 citations
Cortex
Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
10.02
article

Revisiting the electrophysiological correlates of valence and expectancy in reward processing – A multi-lab replication

Annakarina Mundorf, Sebastian Peter Korinth, Raoul Wüllhorst, Yuri G. Pavlov, Sophie Nolden, Tanja Endraß, Boris Lucero, Matthias J. Wieser, Melle J. W. van der Molen, Mario Carlo Severo, Yee Lee Shing, Florian Bublatzky, Gözem Turan, Faisal Mushtaq, Jutta Peterburs, Gilles Pourtois, Douglas J. Angus, Lisa‐Marie Greenwood, Katharina Paul, Greg Hajcak, Antonio Schettino, Bradley N. Jack, Daniela Melitta Pfabigan, Niclas Willscheid
article en
7 citations

Abstract

Two event-related brain potential (ERP) components, the frontocentral feedback-related negativity (FRN) and the posterior P300, are key in feedback processing. The FRN typically exhibits greater amplitude in response to negative and unexpected outcomes, whereas the P300 is generally more pronounced for positive outcomes. In an influential ERP study, Hajcak et al., (2005) manipulated outcome valence and expectancy in a guessing task. They found the FRN was larger for negative outcomes regardless of expectancy, and the P300 larger for unexpected outcomes regardless of valence. These findings challenged the dominant Reinforcement Learning Theory of the ERN. We aimed to replicate these results within the #EEGManyLabs project (Pavlov et al., 2021) across thirteen labs. Our replication, including robustness tests, a PCA and Bayesian models, found that both FRN and P300 were significantly modulated by outcome valence and expectancy: FRN amplitudes (no-reward - reward) were largest for unexpected outcomes, and P300 amplitudes were largest for reward outcomes. These results were consistent across different methods and analyses. Although our findings only partially replicate the original study, they underscore the complexity of feedback processing and demonstrate how aspects of Reinforcement Learning Theory may apply to the P300 component, reinforcing the need for rigorous ERP research methodologies.

CortexVol. 184
Florida State University (US), Goethe University Frankfurt (DE), Australian National University (AU), Bond University (AU), Leiden University (NL), University of Leeds (GB), Universität Hamburg (DE), Heidelberg University (DE), Catholic University of the Maule (CL), Ghent University Hospital (BE), University Hospital Heidelberg (DE), Sykehuset i Vestfold (NO), MSH Medical School Hamburg – University of Applied Sciences and Medical University (DE), Individual Development and Adaptive Education (DE), Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (SE), Central Institute of Mental Health (DE), DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education (DE), University of Regensburg (DE), Technische Universität Dresden (DE), University of Tübingen (DE), Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Australian Research Council, Helse Sør-Øst RHF
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
10.02
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.