Neural correlates of the Dunning-Kruger effect
Alana Muller1,2, Lindsey A Sirianni2,3, Richard J Addante2,4
1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|August 8, 2020
Summary
The Dunning-Kruger effect was explored in episodic memory using EEG. Over-estimators showed familiarity effects, while under-estimators showed recollection effects, suggesting different cognitive processes in metacognitive judgments.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- The Dunning-Kruger effect (DKE) describes illusory superiority in metacognition.
- DKE has not been directly studied in episodic memory or with physiological correlates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Dunning-Kruger effect in episodic memory.
- To explore physiological correlates (EEG) and reaction times associated with DKE in memory tasks.
Main Methods:
- A novel item recognition task was developed to elicit DKE.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during the task.
- Participants estimated their performance percentile.
Main Results:
- Participants confirmed DKE: low performers over-estimated, high performers under-estimated.
- Reaction times differed between over- and under-estimators based on performance estimation.
- EEG revealed distinct neural patterns: familiarity effects (FN400-like) in over-estimators and recollection effects (late parietal component) in under-estimators.
Conclusions:
- Over- and under-estimators utilize different cognitive processes in metacognitive judgments.
- Under-estimators may rely on recollection, while over-estimators may rely on familiarity in episodic memory.
- Episodic memory contributes to metacognitive judgments of illusory superiority.
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