Risk-Taking Is Associated with Decreased Subjective Value Signals and Increased Prediction Error Signals in the Hot Columbia Card Task.

It remains a pressing concern to understand how neural computations relate to risky decisions. However, most observations of brain-behavior relationships in the risk-taking domain lack a rigorous computational basis or fail to emulate of the dynamic, sequential nature of real-life risky decision-making. Recent advances emphasize the role of neural prediction error (PE) signals. We modeled, according to prospect theory, the choices of n = 43 human participants (33 females, 10 males) performing an EEG version of the hot Columbia Card Task, featuring rounds of sequential decisions between stopping (safe option) and continuing with increasing odds of a high loss (risky option). Single-trial regression EEG analyses yielded a subjective value signal at centroparietal (300-700 ms) and frontocentral (>800 ms) electrodes and in the delta band, as well as PE signals tied to the feedback-related negativity, P3a, and P3b, and in the theta band. Higher risk preference (total number of risky choices) was linked to attenuated subjective value signals but increased PE signals. Higher P3-like activity associated with the most positive PE in each round predicted stopping in the present round but not risk-taking in the subsequent round. Our findings indicate that decreased representation of decision values and increased sensitivity to winning despite low odds (positive PE) facilitate risky choices at the subject level. Strong neural responses when gains are least expected (the most positive PE on each round) adaptively contribute to safer choices at the trial-by-trial level but do not affect risky choice at the round-by-round level.

Validation of the German long and short versions of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.

OBJECTIVE: The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale is a widely used self-report measure of impulsivity, but there is currently no validated German version that includes the Positive Urgency scale. METHODS: We combined existing German translations of UPPS scales and included the Positive Urgency dimension to validate the UPPS-P in a sample of 399 participants. In addition, we developed a revised short version of the UPPS-P (SUPPS-P) with 20 items and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify the structure in an independent validation sample with 349 participants. To determine evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, we used measures of impulsivity, depression, anxiety, stress, problematic alcohol and substance use. RESULTS: CFA of the five factorial structure of the UPPS-P demonstrated acceptable fits and evidence of validity and reliability for the subscales. Psychometric characteristics of the SUPPS-P using the original item configuration were not satisfactory. As a result, we developed a revised German version of the SUPPS-P and confirmed the five-factor structure using a CFA in the validation sample. For the revised version, model fits and evidence of validity and internal consistencies were good. Associations with other constructs were as expected. For example, whereas Sensation Seeking was associated moderately with problematic alcohol use, lacking associations of Lack of Premeditation to internalizing symptoms showed evidence of discriminant validity. DISCUSSION: The German translations of both UPPS-P and SUPPS-P are valid tools for measuring impulsive behaviors. They are well-suited for exploring the associations between different facets of impulsivity and psychopathological phenomena.

Electrocortical correlates of impaired motor inhibition and outcome processing are related in high binge-watching.

Models posit problematic binge-watching to involve a vicious circle of low motivation for alternative activities, low sensitivity for the consequences of neglected goals, and low self-control. As such, simultaneously impaired feedback and inhibitory functioning might contribute to binge-watching. We tested the hypothesis that blunted feedback-related brain activity is coupled with attenuated inhibitory brain activity in binge-watchers. High (n = 32) and non-binge-watchers (n = 31) performed go/nogo (inhibition) and stop signal (stopping) tasks and a flanker paradigm with performance feedback during electroencephalography. We examined how neural correlates of inhibition and stopping were associated with outcome processing in each group. We assessed the temporospatial relationship using a single-trial regression approach. High binge-watchers, but not non-binge-watchers, who differentiated less between gains and losses at the neural level (feedback-P3b) also recruited less brain activity during both inhibition and stopping (inhibition-P3 and stopping-P3). Exploratory analyses suggested that these relationships were most prominent in high binge-watchers with high loss of control over watching. Main effects of the group in performance or EEG did not emerge. These results suggest a potentially problematic interaction between outcome and inhibitory functions in binge-watchers. Insensitivity to behavioral consequences along with inhibitory impairments may also confer a long-term risk for compulsive watching. Our multi-modal approach may be particularly suited to detect such an underlying risk marker.

Punishment has a persistent effect on error-related brain activity in highly anxious individuals twenty-four hours after conditioning.

The ability to detect and respond to errors, and to subsequently recruit cognitive control to remediate those errors, is critical to successful adaptation in a changing environment. However, there is also evidence that, for anxious individuals, this error signal is enhanced, highlighting affective and motivational influences on error monitoring. These individual differences arise as a function of both genetic influences and learning experiences. In this study, we examined punishment-based modulation of the error-related negativity (ERN) in high and low anxious individuals across two days. Twenty-two low- and 25 high-anxious participants performed a Flanker task in a standard and punishment condition in three phases (Day one: acquisition and extinction 1, Day two: extinction 2). During the acquisition phase, errors in one condition were punished by a loud noise. This was followed by an immediate extinction phase (extinction 1), during which errors were no longer punished, and an identical extinction phase 24 h later (extinction 2). Only high anxious individuals showed increased ERN amplitudes in the punishment compared to the standard condition. This effect was not modulated by phase and was observed across acquisition and both extinction phases, such that anxious individuals appeared not to learn that the threat value of formerly-punished errors had changed in the course of the experiment. These data suggest that environmental factors (i.e., punishment) can have a persistent effect on the magnitude of the ERN, particularly for anxious individuals. This may point to a pathogenic mechanism linking learning experiences with the development of overactive error-monitoring in anxiety.