Responsibility modulates neural mechanisms of outcome processing: an ERP study

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Decision-Making
• Neuroscience of Responsibility

Background:

• The influence of personal responsibility on decision-making and outcome evaluation is under-explored in cognitive neuroscience.
• Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the subjective sense of responsibility is crucial for comprehending decision-making processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the subjective sense of personal responsibility affects the outcome evaluation process.
• To examine the neural correlates, specifically the event-related brain potential (ERP) feedback-related negativity (fERN), associated with varying levels of perceived responsibility.

Main Methods:

• An event-related brain potential (ERP) study was conducted using a gambling task.
• The subjective sense of responsibility was manipulated by altering the perceived controllability of the game outcomes.
• Participants' self-reports of personal responsibility and fERN amplitudes were measured.

Main Results:

• Participants reported a significantly higher sense of personal responsibility when the game was perceived as 'controllable' versus 'uncontrollable'.
• A larger feedback-related negativity (fERN) amplitude was observed in the 'controllable' condition compared to the 'uncontrollable' condition.
• fERN amplitude showed a positive correlation with individual self-reports of personal responsibility.

Conclusions:

• The self-attribution of responsibility, modulated by perceived outcome controllability, significantly influences the brain's outcome evaluation process.
• Event-related brain potential (ERP) measures, specifically fERN amplitude, reflect the degree of personal responsibility attributed by individuals.
• These findings contribute to understanding the neural basis of responsibility in decision-making and its impact on cognitive processes.