Control mechanisms after expectation violation: An ERP study in expectation-based search
Jingyi Jiang1, Mengying Liu2, Qian Wu3
1Department of Psychology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Summary
Expectation violations in visual search update expectations differently based on association type. Long-term associations use proactive control, while short-term associations rely more on reactive control.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human behavior
Background:
- People often search for targets based on learned associations (e.g., color-flavor).
- Expectation violations during search impact subsequent search efficiency (inter-trial effects).
- Mechanisms of expectation updating after violations are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how searching for expectation-incongruent targets influences visual search.
- To explore the roles of expectation updating and cognitive control in response to violated expectations.
- To differentiate cognitive control mechanisms based on association type (long-term vs. short-term).
Main Methods:
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) were analyzed alongside behavioral data.
- Participants engaged in visual search tasks involving expectation-based trials.
- Association types (long-term and short-term) were manipulated to examine their effects.
Main Results:
- Distinct cognitive control mechanisms were identified despite similar behavioral outcomes.
- Expectation violations in long-term associations promoted expectation updating via proactive control.
- Reactive control was more prominent in the context of short-term associations.
Conclusions:
- Associative learning significantly guides behavior, particularly when expectations are violated.
- Expectation violation and updating theory is supported by findings on proactive and reactive control.
- The study clarifies how different association types modulate cognitive control during visual search.
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