ABSTRACT

This study aimed at investigating the neurocognitive correlates of the perception and evaluation of equitable and inequitable distributions in five-year-old children. Children observed one character distributing toys or candies between two recipients. One of the recipients already possessed many resources, and the other possessed just a few. We used event-related potentials to compare brain activity elicited by equitable (the poor receives more) and inequitable (the rich receives more) distribution. On a behavioral level, children evaluated inequitable distribution as worse than equitable and considered the distributor as mean and worthy of punishment when she distributed inequitably as compared to equitably. On the neural level, we expected to find a MFN effect between 250 and 350 ms after picture onset. Instead, we found a frontal positivity (P2), which was greater for inequitable vs. equitable distributions, indicating greater saliency and attentional capture. This was followed by marginally significant greater positivity for equitable distributions between 600 and 1000 ms after picture onset (LPP), which indicates greater allocation of processing resources. Furthermore, a greater LPP was associated with more extreme evaluations for both conditions. This suggests that the more resources children invest in processing the distribution, the more they endorse equity and condemn inequity.

摘要

本研究旨在调查对五岁儿童公平和不公平分布的感知和评估的神经认知相关性。孩子们观察到一个角色在两个接受者之间分发玩具或糖果。一个接受者已经拥有了很多资源，而另一个接受者只拥有了一些。我们使用事件相关电位来比较由公平（穷人获得更多）和不公平（富人获得更多）分配引起的大脑活动。在行为层面上，儿童将不公平分配视为比公平更糟糕，并认为当分配者不公平分配与公平分配相比时，分配者是卑鄙的，值得惩罚。在神经层面，我们希望在图片开始后 250 到 350 毫秒之间找到 MFN 效果。反而，我们发现了正面积极性 (P2)，对于不公平与公平分布而言，正面积极性更大，表明更显着性和注意力捕获。紧随其后的是在图像开始 (LPP) 后 600 到 1000 毫秒之间公平分配的积极性略显着更高，这表明处理资源的分配更大。此外，更大的 LPP 与对这两种情况的更极端的评估相关联。这表明儿童在处理分配上投入的资源越多，他们就越支持公平并谴责不公平。这表明更多的处理资源分配。此外，更大的 LPP 与对这两种情况的更极端的评估相关联。这表明儿童在处理分配上投入的资源越多，他们就越支持公平并谴责不公平。这表明更多的处理资源分配。此外，更大的 LPP 与对这两种情况的更极端的评估相关联。这表明儿童在处理分配上投入的资源越多，他们就越支持公平并谴责不公平。