The present study investigated whether the representation of subjective preferences in the event-related potential is manipulable through selective devaluation, i.e., the consumption of a specific food item until satiety. Thirty-four participants completed a gambling task in which they chose between virtual doors to find one of three snack items, representing a high, medium, or low preference outcome as defined by individual desire-to-eat ratings. In one of two test sessions, they underwent selective devaluation of the high preference outcome. In the other, they completed the task on an empty stomach. Consistent with previous findings, averaged across sessions, amplitudes were increased for more preferred rewards in the time windows of P2, late FRN, and P300. As hypothesised, we also found a selective devaluation effect for the high preference outcome in the P300 time window, reflected in a decrease in amplitude. The present results provide evidence for modulations of reward processing not only by individual factors, such as subjective preferences, but also by the current motivational state. Importantly, the present data suggest that selective devaluation effects in the P300 may be a promising tool to further characterise altered valuation of food rewards in the context of eating disorders and obesity.

本研究调查了主观偏好在事件相关电位中的表示是否可以通过选择性贬值来操纵，即在饱腹感之前食用特定的食物。34 名参与者完成了一项赌博任务，他们在虚拟门之间进行选择，以找到三种零食中的一种，代表由个人食欲评级定义的高、中或低偏好结果。在两次测试中的一次中，他们对高偏好结果进行了选择性贬值。另一种是空腹完成任务。与之前的发现一致，在会话中平均，在 P2、晚期 FRN 和 P300 的时间窗口中，幅度增加以获得更优选的奖励。正如假设的那样，我们还发现了 P300 时间窗口中高偏好结果的选择性贬值效应，反映在幅度的降低上。目前的结果为奖励处理的调节提供了证据，不仅通过个体因素，如主观偏好，而且通过当前的动机状态。重要的是，目前的数据表明，P300 中的选择性贬值效应可能是一个有前途的工具，可以进一步描述在饮食失调和肥胖背景下食物奖励的改变估值。