Reward expectation yields distinct effects on sensory processing and decision making in the human brain
Fig 2
Space-specific and choice-specific reward expectation independently modulate sensitivity and criterion.
A. Sensitivity (d′) for detecting changes at the FX (filled symbols) and VR (open symbols) sides for the two reward contingency conditions (“VR > FX”, left pair and “VR < FX”, right pair) in the space-specific reward expectation session (gain blocks only). Markers: individual participants (n = 24). Box plots limits denote the first and third quartiles; midline: median; whiskers: the minimum and maximum data points not considered outliers. Violin plots: kernel density estimates. Asterisks: statistical significance levels assessed with a Wilcoxon signed rank test (***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05, n.s.: not significant). Dashed line: datum (d′ = 0). B. Sensitivity modulation induced by reward contingency change (Δd′ = d′VR > FX – d′VR < FX) at the FX (x-axis) and VR (y-axis) sides in the space-specific reward expectation session (gain blocks only). p-value in the lower left: statistical significance for differences between Δd′FX and Δd′VR. Violin and box plots along the axes: marginals showing Δd′FX (filled symbols, horizontal) and Δd′VR (open symbols, vertical). Other conventions are the same as in panel A. C. Same as in panel A, but for criterion (c) in the space-specific reward expectation session. Other conventions are the same as in panel A. D. Same as in panel B, but showing criterion modulation induced by reward contingency change (Δc = cVR > FX – cVR < FX) in the space-specific reward expectation session. Other conventions are the same as in panel B. (E–F). Same as in panels (C–D), respectively, but comparing criteria (E) and c modulations (F) between the two reward contingencies (“Yes > No” and “Yes < No”) in the choice-specific reward expectation session. Other conventions are the same as in panels C–D. (G–H). Same as in panels (A–B), respectively, but comparing sensitivities (G) and d′ modulations (F) between the two reward contingencies (“Yes > No” and “Yes < No”) in the choice-specific reward expectation session. Other conventions are the same as in panels A–B. Data are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25966015 [34].