Programm

The neurophysiological processes related to reward and feedback processing have been extensively investigated for more than 30 years now. It has been shown that dopaminergic neurons encode a reward prediction error. In humans, feedback processing is reflected in a cascade of event-related potential (ERP) components. The frontocentral feedback-related negativity (FRN) is presumably generated by computations of the so-called reward system, specifically prediction error signals in midbrain structures and the frontal cortex, while other ERP components may reflect feedback processing outside of the reward system. In this symposium, we seek to integrate recent advances in feedback processing research to better understand how cognitive and affective contextual manipulations influence feedback processing and utilization. Hans Kirschner will describe neuro-computational mechanisms responsible for the counter-normative influence of task-irrelevant variability in reward magnitude and feedback salience on probabilistic learning. Maren Giersiepen will talk about how the sense of agency affects neural correlates of feedback processing within and beyond the reward system. Franz Wurm will discuss research investigating how prediction errors and their neurophysiological representation affect happiness. Christine Albrecht will present how the event associated with feedback can lead to a recruitment of alternative neural mechanisms during feedback processing as reflected in the N170 ERP component. Finally, Constanze Weber will show how feedback timing affects neurophysiological representations of prediction errors for both presented and omitted feedback. Taken together, this symposium will contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence feedback processing and its downstream effects.