Abstract
Dual-system accounts posit that instrumental behavior is controlled by both a goal-directed and a habitual system. In this study, we aimed to identify the electrophysiological components associated with goal-directed versus habitual performance using an outcome devaluation procedure. Datasets from 35 healthy participants were analyzed. Behaviorally, in line with previous research, participants displayed sensitivity to outcome devaluation, a hallmark of goal-directed control. Electrophysiologically, decreased N2 and increased error-related negativity (ERN) amplitudes were associated with slips of action in conditions that could potentially engage both the goal-directed and habitual systems. These amplitude differences were more pronounced in participants that displayed more sensitivity to devaluation. Furthermore, we show how specific neurophysiological learning signals, namely ERN and feedback-locked P3, could predict subsequent sensitivity to devaluation. Our findings indicate that the N2 and ERN components can be used as indices of goal-directed versus habitual control, and emphasize the importance of the ERN as an electrophysiological trait in the context of goal-directed behavior.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cortex |
| Volume | 119 |
| Pages (from-to) | 401-416 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| ISSN | 0010-9452 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 10.2019 |
Funding
This work was supported by an intramural grant of the University of Lübeck [grant number E05-2014 to ND] and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [grant numbers SFBTR134 (project C1) to TFM, DO1915/3-1 to ND]. Funders had no role in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, in the writing of the report, nor in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Research Areas and Centers
- Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)
