Evidence of EEG Correlates of Memory-Based Decision-Making During A Transitive Inference Task

Making decisions based on previously acquired knowledge is fundamental for optimizing interactions with a complex environment. The transitive inference task is an experimental paradigm developed for studying the cognitive and behavioral correlates of this ability. It first requires learning the reciprocal hierarchy between the adjacent items of a rank-ordered set, like the series A>B>C>D>E>F, and then indicating, in a test phase, the ordinal relationship between all possible pair combinations (e.g.,C?F). When performing this task, the accuracy in determining whether a given item is higher or lower in rank than another depends on their rank differences. In fact, it is easier to compare items with a larger rank difference than smaller ones. This phenomenon highlights a symbolic distance effect (SDE), which is thought to reflect a spatial-like mental representation of the item's rank, arranged linearly in working memory. Monkey neurophysiology studies have found a correlation between SDE and the activity of neurons in both the parietal and prefrontal areas. Using EEG with human participants, we found modulation of ERP components involved in visual attention from corresponding brain areas, providing a functional link, from microscopic to macroscopic scales, emphasizing the role of these brain regions in this cognitive function.