Fig. 6: Change in preference ratings following value learning with different reward magnitudes.
From: Trait anxiety is associated with reduced reward-related replay at rest
a Task design. Similar to the design of our EEG study, this behavioural experiment manipulated reward magnitude (¥10 vs. ¥100) to examine its effect on participants with varying levels of trait anxiety. Preferences were rated twice (pre- and post-task). The sequence-learning phase involved pairwise training (e.g. B’ → C’, A → B, D’ → E’) and learning a true sequence (e.g. A → B → C → D → E). The final stimulus in each sequence (E or E’) was paired with either ¥10 or ¥100. Two resting states (4 min each) were included, mirroring the EEG study design. b Mean increase (post minus pre) in preference ratings relative to distance from the reward icon (¥10 or ¥100). Three-way ANOVA: Position × Time × Sequence interaction: F (4,672) = 1.32, p = 0.262, η² = 0.008. Error bars show SEM; each dot indicates results from one participant (n = 169). The density curves illustrate probability distributions, with width indicating response density. c Stimulus preference increases as a function of proximity to the reward icon, separated by trait anxiety group (low vs. high) for ¥10 (left) and ¥100 (right). Only low-anxiety participants (n = 85, reward ¥10: β = 0.20 ± 0.08, t (408) = 2.32, p = 0.021, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.36]; reward ¥100: β = 0.18 ± 0.08, t (408) = 2.19, p = 0.029, 95% CI = [0.02, 0.35]) showed a significant positive linear relationship between closeness to reward and preference increase. Error bars show SEM; each dot indicates results from one participant. The solid line reflects the best robust linear fit, ns not statistically significant, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.
