Feedback related negativity (FRN) is an event related potential (ERP) component that is often linked to the processing of negative feedback. Previous studies indicated different physical reactions...Show moreFeedback related negativity (FRN) is an event related potential (ERP) component that is often linked to the processing of negative feedback. Previous studies indicated different physical reactions during the processing of positive and negative feedback. However, no studies investigated FRN potential differences during the processing of social feedback in young children. The present study examined differences in FRN potentials in children of 4 6 years old (N = 17, M = 5.61, 64,7% boys) during the processing of positive, negative and neutral social feedback. In addition, gender differences in effortful control (EC) and the relation between EC and the FRN difference score were examined. The FRN potentials were recorded during an age appropriate social judgment task accomplished by the participants. The results indicated no significant differences in FRN potentials during the processing of positive, negative and neutral social judgements, suggesting that young children do not differentiate between social judgments yet. According to the EC results, no relation is found between EC and the FRN difference score. These results suggest no relation between EC and FRNd potentials in young children. Also, no gender differences were found in EC, suggesting that young boys and girls have similar levels of inhibition and attentional focusing.Show less
