Electrophysiological correlates of cognitive control and performance monitoring in risk propensity: An event-related potential study

• Published in: Brain and cognition 2024-03, Vol.175, p.106136-106136, Article 106136
• Main Authors: Nazari, Mohammad Ali, Naghel, Sedigheh, Abbasi, Sevda, Khayyat Naghadehi, Ayda, Nikzad, Behzad, Sabaghypour, Saied, Farkhondeh Tale Navi, Farhad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognition - physiology; Cognitive control; Electroencephalography - methods; ERN; Error detection; Event-related potentials (ERPs); Event-Related Potentials, P300 - physiology; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Humans; P300; Reaction Time - physiology; Risk propensity; Risk-taking behaviors
• ISSN: 0278-2626; 1090-2147
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106136

•CNV amplitudes in high-risk individuals exhibit heightened response preparation and inhibition.•Enhanced P300 amplitudes in Nogo trials, particularly in high-risk group.•Smaller ERN amplitudes in high-risk compared to low-risk individuals.•Lack of difference between the groups in Pe component. Investigating the cognitive control processes and error detection mechanisms involved in risk-taking behaviors is essential for understanding risk propensity. This study investigated the relationship between risk propensity and cognitive control processes using an event-related potentials (ERP) approach. The study employed a Cued Go/Nogo paradigm to elicit ERP components related to cognitive control processes, including contingent negative variation (CNV), P300, error-related negativity (ERN), and error positivity (Pe). Healthy participants were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups based on their performance in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). The results revealed risk-taking behavior influenced CNV amplitudes, indicating heightened response preparation and inhibition for the high-risk group. In contrast, the P300 component showed no group differences but revealed enhanced amplitudes in Nogo trials, particularly in high-risk group. Furthermore, despite the lack of difference in the Pe component, the high-risk group exhibited smaller ERN amplitudes compared to the low-risk group, suggesting reduced sensitivity to error detection. These findings imply that risk-taking behaviors may be associated with a hypoactive avoidance system rather than impaired response inhibition. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying risk propensity and cognitive control processes can contribute to the development of interventions aimed at reducing risky behaviors and promoting better decision-making.