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. 2021 Feb 25:12:640270.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.640270. eCollection 2021.

Electrophysiological Examination of Feedback-Based Learning in 8-11-Year-Old Children

Yael Arbel  1 , Annie B Fox  2
Affiliations

Electrophysiological Examination of Feedback-Based Learning in 8-11-Year-Old Children

Yael Arbel et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

The study aimed at evaluating the extent to which the feedback related negativity (FRN), an ERP component associated with feedback processing, is related to learning in school-age children. Eighty typically developing children between the ages of 8 and 11 years completed a declarative learning task while their EEG was recorded. The study evaluated the predictive value of the FRN on learning retention as measured by accuracy on a follow-up test a day after the session. The FRN elicited by positive feedback was found to be predictive of learning retention in children. The relationship between the FRN and learning was moderated by age. The P3a was also found to be associated with learning, such that larger P3a to negative feedback was associated with better learning retention in children.

Keywords: development; event related potentials; feedback-based learning; feedback-related negativity; learning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Grand average event related potentials elicited by positive feedback (dashed line) and negative feedback (solid line) recorded in the fronto-central electrode site (FCz).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The relationship between learning retention and the FRN elicited by positive (left) and negative (right) feedback. Learning retention is represented by the proportion of correct test items. The FRN amplitude is presented in z score.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The relationship between learning retention and the P3a elicited by positive (left) and negative (right) feedback. Learning retention is represented by the proportion of correct test items. The P3a amplitude is presented in z score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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