Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:12
Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
Published on: March 17, 2019
Feedback-related negativity is correlated with unplanned impulsivity
Keiichi Onoda1, Satoshi Abe, Shuhei Yamaguchi
1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
Neuroreport
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Aberrant feedback-related negativity (FRN) is linked to impulsivity. In healthy individuals, lower FRN amplitude correlated with higher unplanned impulsivity, suggesting FRN may indicate this trait.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) event-related potentials, specifically feedback-related negativity (FRN), show alterations in neurological and psychiatric conditions.
- Conditions like alcoholism and ADHD, often associated with high impulsivity, exhibit aberrant FRN.
- Impulsivity is a complex trait with various facets, including planning and decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between FRN amplitude and impulsivity in healthy individuals.
- To determine if FRN can serve as a neurophysiological marker for specific aspects of impulsivity.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent electroencephalogram (EEG) recording during a gambling task.
- FRN amplitude was measured during the task.
- Correlation analysis was performed between FRN amplitude and scores from the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS).
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was found between FRN amplitude and the nonplanning impulsiveness score from the BIS.
- This indicates that lower FRN amplitude is associated with higher levels of unplanned impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- FRN amplitude is associated with unplanned impulsivity in healthy adults.
- FRN may function as a neurophysiological marker for the tendency towards unplanned actions or lack of future orientation.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Reason and Intuition
The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
01:28Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
01:14Fundamental Attribution Error
According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is called the fundamental attribution...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
01:14Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
Avoidance learning and learned helplessness are critical concepts in understanding behavioral responses to negative stimuli.
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...