Feedback-related brain activity during the Chicken game

Abstract

The Feedback-Related Negativity (FRN) is a feedback-locked Event- Related Potential (ERP) component that is larger for losses compared with gains. The "Chicken" game is a social decision making game where both players have the choice to cooperate or compete. The most points are awarded to the player who competes when the other player cooperates, however if both players compete they each receive the worst payoff in the game. This study examines the FRN when a player receives feedback from the other player indicating how many points were won or lost on that round of the Chicken game. The FRN was larger on trials where the other player competes than when the other player cooperates which shows that this socially complex paradigm is able to produce reliable FRNs. The FRN was also shown to be larger on trials where the participant chose the competitive choice, and that effect was strongest when there was a potential for winning points as opposed to the potential for a loss.