Neural processing of equitable and inequitable distributions in 5-year-old children

Author(s)
Carolina Pletti, Markus Paulus
Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the neurocognitive correlates of the perception and evaluation of equitable and inequitable distributions in five-year-old children. Children observed one character distributing toys or candies between two recipients. One of the recipients already possessed many resources, and the other possessed just a few. We used event-related potentials to compare brain activity elicited by equitable (the poor receives more) and inequitable (the rich receives more) distribution. On a behavioral level, children evaluated inequitable distribution as worse than equitable and considered the distributor as mean and worthy of punishment when she distributed inequitably as compared to equitably. On the neural level, we expected to find a MFN effect between 250 and 350 ms after picture onset. Instead, we found a frontal positivity (P2), which was greater for inequitable vs. equitable distributions, indicating greater saliency and attentional capture. This was followed by marginally significant greater positivity for equitable distributions between 600 and 1000 ms after picture onset (LPP), which indicates greater allocation of processing resources. Furthermore, a greater LPP was associated with more extreme evaluations for both conditions. This suggests that the more resources children invest in processing the distribution, the more they endorse equity and condemn inequity.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Journal
Social Neuroscience
Volume
15
Pages
584-599
No. of pages
16
ISSN
1747-0919
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2020.1816578
Publication date
09-2020
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501021 Social psychology, 501011 Cognitive psychology, 501006 Experimental psychology, 501005 Developmental psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Development, Social Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/neural-processing-of-equitable-and-inequitable-distributions-in-5yearold-children(0f9eab1e-8df1-4618-86d3-61b77671001b).html