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

Yael Arbel; Annie B Fox

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.640270

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

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

Authors

Yael Arbel¹, Annie B Fox²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States.
² Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States.

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.