Feedback Related Negativity specifications in unpredictable gambling conditions

Decision-making is crucial, as it influences future directions, actions, and behaviors. Previous EEG studies frequently highlight Feedback-Related Negativity (FRN), an event-related potential (ERP) appearing 200–350 milliseconds after feedback during decision-making. The FRN is believed to originate from dopaminergic neurons in the mesencephalic system, which follows Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms, particularly the temporal difference error model. According to the RL theory, there is a substantial link between the activity of dopamine neurons and the difference between actual and anticipated outcomes, where the anticipated result is influenced by both the chance of receiving a reward and its value. While the impact of chance of receiving a reward on FRN is well established, the effect of reward value or magnitude on FRN remains unclear. This research sought to examine the independent impact of reward magnitude on both FRN amplitude and valence. A total of 24 individuals were enlisted for the study and simultaneously collected EEG data using a 65-channel high-density setup, while the participants performed a customized task aimed at control reward probability and assessing the impact of reward size. EEG results showed FRN was more negative for losses than wins. A positive correlation was found between ERP amplitude within the FRN window and feedback’s magnitude, and valence. Overall, the findings suggest the FRN mirrors the behavior of the mesencephalic dopamine system and aligns with RL principles.