# Neurophysiological characteristics of reward processing in deaf college students under different social contexts

## TL;DR

This study explores how deaf college students process rewards differently in social inclusion versus exclusion contexts using brain activity measurements.

## Contribution

The study reveals novel neurophysiological insights into reward processing in deaf individuals under social exclusion.

## Key findings

- Deaf students showed higher hit rates in social inclusion than exclusion contexts.
- Cue P3 amplitudes were higher for reward cues in social exclusion, especially monetary cues.
- Feedback-related negativity was stronger for large monetary rewards in exclusion contexts.

## Abstract

In the context of social exclusion, individuals tend to make choices that are advantageous to themselves and optimize their interests. Due to hearing impairment, deaf college students face more social exclusion in our society. However, the neural mechanisms of reward processing in deaf college students during different situations of social exclusion remain unknown.

A total of 27 deaf college students completed the monetary and social reward delay tasks while recording event-related potential (ERP) data.

The behavioral hit rate was sensitive to the main effect of social context; that is, the deaf college students showed a higher hit rate in social inclusion than in social exclusion. The amplitude of Cue P3 elicited by reward cues was found to be higher in social exclusion than in social inclusion, particularly when the amplitudes of monetary cues were higher than those of social cues. In the reward feedback outcome phase, small magnitude induced a greater feedback-evoked P3 than large magnitude. Additionally, they exhibited a large feedback-related negativity amplitude for large-magnitude (but not for small-magnitude) monetary reward cues.

Deaf college students were more sensitive to reward cues in social exclusion than in social inclusion, especially to monetary cues, and more concerned with attaining greater monetary gains.