No evidence for a negative prediction error signal in peripheral indicators of sympathetic arousal

Neuroimage. 2012 Jan 16;59(2):883-4. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.08.091. Epub 2011 Sep 2.

Abstract

Recently, the existence of a prediction error signal to the omission of expected punishment in skin conductance recordings has been posited. Here, we re-analyse an existing dataset on aversive delay conditioning and find no evidence for such a signal. We discuss methodical reasons for this discrepancy and technical implications for estimation of central processes from skin conductance data.

MeSH terms

  • Anticipation, Psychological / physiology
  • Arousal / physiology*
  • Electrodiagnosis / methods*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Plethysmography, Impedance / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin / innervation*
  • Skin Physiological Phenomena*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiology*