Neurophysiological encoding of aversive prediction errors.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Aversive prediction error (PE) brain signals generated by unexpected pain or pain absence are crucial for learning to avoid future pain. Yet, the detailed neurophysiological origins of PE signaling remain unclear. In this study, we combined an instrumental pain avoidance task with computational modeling and magnetoencephalography to detect time-resolved activations underlying pain expectations and aversive PE signals in the human brain. The task entailed learning probabilistically changing cue-pain associations to avoid receiving a pain stimulus. We used an axiomatic approach to identify general aversive PE signals that encode the degree to which the outcome deviated from expectations. Our findings indicate that aversive PE signals are generated in the alpha band (8-12 Hz)

SUBMITTER: Gopalakrishnan R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12270284 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature