Dorsal posterior cingulate cortex encodes the informational value of feedback in human-computer interaction

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Feedback is vital in human communication and human-computer interaction for dialogue, action evaluation, and performance enhancement.
• Neuroscientific research often views feedback primarily as a reward signal, overlooking its informational role in task performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural correlates of the informational value of computer-generated feedback, distinct from its reward properties.
• To understand how the brain processes feedback as information for behavioral adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed during a computer-controlled auditory categorization task.
• Participants received different types of feedback: correctness of decision versus mere registration of decision.

Main Results:

• Feedback indicating decision correctness, compared to feedback merely registering a decision, significantly increased activation in the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex.
• Both feedback conditions elicited similar strong activation in the dorsal striatum, challenging a reward-centric interpretation of this area's response to feedback.
• The findings support the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex's role in processing behaviorally relevant information.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates that the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex is sensitive to the informational content of feedback, beyond its reward value.
• Dorsal striatum activation suggests a fundamental role in maintaining interaction states rather than solely processing reward.
• Informational feedback is crucial for adapting behavior and enabling continued interaction.