Emotions were recently reconsidered as predictions, constructed by the brain (generation stage) to prearrange action (implementation stage), and update internal models according to incoming stimuli (updating stage). However, it is unclear how emotional predictions are shaped by stimuli predictability. This study investigated the role of stimuli predictability on emotional predictions through high-density EEG. Twenty-six undergraduates underwent a S1-S2 paradigm, with emotional faces as S1s and emotional pictures as S2s. Stimuli predictability was manipulated across three blocks, in which S1 valence was predictive of S2 in the 100%, 75%, or 50% of trials. ERPs and brain sources were analyzed for each stage. During prediction generation, a larger N170/superior temporal sulcus activity emerged to fearful faces in blocks with full (100%) and medium (75%) predictive ratios. During implementation, the random block (50%) elicited a valence-independent pre-allocation of resources, reflected by a larger CNV and activation of a wide left network. In the updating stage, emotional pictures always elicited a larger LPP, while a larger P2 to neutral stimuli and a higher activity of the orbitofrontal cortex signaled early valence-dependent and late block-dependent prediction errors. These findings provide the first evidence of how stimuli predictability shape each neurocomputational stage of emotional predictions construction.

情绪最近被重新考虑为预测，由大脑构建（生成阶段）以预先安排动作（实施阶段），并根据传入的刺激更新内部模型（更新阶段）。然而，目前尚不清楚刺激可预测性如何塑造情绪预测。本研究通过高密度脑电图调查了刺激可预测性对情绪预测的作用。26 名本科生接受了 S1-S2 范式，情感面孔为 S1，情感图片为 S2。刺激可预测性在三个区块中进行了操纵，其中 S1 效价在100%、75%或50%中预测 S2的试验。对每个阶段的 ERP 和脑源进行了分析。在预测生成期间，较大的 N170/颞上沟活动出现在具有完全 ( 100% ) 和中等 ( 75% ) 预测比率的块中的恐惧面孔中。在实施过程中，随机块 ( 50% ) 引发了与价数无关的资源预分配，这反映在较大的 CNV 和宽左网络的激活上。在更新中阶段，情绪图片总是引起较大的 LPP，而较大的 P2 对中性刺激和眶额皮质的较高活动表明早期的价依赖和晚期块依赖的预测错误。这些发现提供了刺激可预测性如何塑造情绪预测构建的每个神经计算阶段的第一个证据。