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Poster B in Poster Session B: Tuesday, August 4, 2:00 – 3:45 pm, Kimmel Center, Shorin & Rosenthal Rooms

Behavioral and neural correlates of conflict prediction

Hans Kirschner¹, Matthew R. Nassar², Markus Ullsperger¹; ¹Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, ²Brown University

Presenter: Hans Kirschner

Humans proactively adjust cognitive control by predicting the likelihood of conflict from past experience. However, the behavioral and neural signatures of such predictions remain incompletely understood. Here, we analyze a large EEG dataset (n = 1000) from a flanker task to characterize trial-by-trial conflict prediction using a reinforcement-learning model. Higher predicted conflict was associated with improved performance on incongruent trials, reflected in increased accuracy and longer reaction times, suggesting increased response caution. These effects were accompanied by enhanced pre-stimulus midfrontal theta-to-beta activity, consistent with proactive control engagement. Together, these findings provide converging behavioral and neural evidence that humans anticipate control demands and adjust behavior accordingly.

Topic Area: Decision-Making, Cognitive Control & Event Cognition