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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children
Published on: October 4, 2018
Phenotypic and genetic correlations between evoked EEG/ERP measures during the response anticipation period of a
Dirk J A Smit1, Danielle Posthuma, Dorret I Boomsma
1Biological Psychology, Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. dja.smit@psy.vu.nl
Abstract:
We investigated the relationship between three electrophysiological indices of response anticipation in a spatial delayed response task with a low and high memory load manipulation: a slow cortical potential (SCP), theta desynchronization, and upper alpha synchronization. Individual differences in these three measures were examined in 531 adult twins and siblings. Heritability of the SCP at occipital-parietal leads varied from 30% to 43%. Heritability of upper alpha synchronization (35% to 65%) and theta desynchronization (31% to 50%) was significant at all leads. Theta desynchronization and upper alpha synchronization were significantly correlated (r approximately 43%), but SCP was not correlated with either. The effect of working memory load on all three measures was not heritable. Response anticipation reliably evokes an SCP, upper alpha synchronization and theta desynchronization, but variation in these measures reflects different (genetic) sources.
