The relationship between motivation and perceived control is fundamental to goal-directed behaviour. While Sense of Agency (SoA) and Locus of Control (LoC) are known to influence motivational states, their neural mechanisms and temporal dynamics remain poorly understood. The proposed EEG-study investigates how feedback inconsistencies affect SoA and subsequent motivational processes using a combination of EEG and behavioural measurements.

In a colour-dominance task, participants will indicate the prevalent colour in dichromatic pixel fields via button press across three conditions: (1) veridical feedback with performance-based rewards, (2) manipulated feedback misrepresenting 33% of correct responses as incorrect through direct feedback, and (3) system-altered responses suggesting technical malfunctions for 33% of correct answers. This design systematically varies mistake-attribution possibilities while maintaining constant task parameters.

We hypothesize to find neural correlates for decreased SoA in conditions 2 and 3, specifically expecting altered CNV amplitudes and attenuated low-frequency oscillatory dynamics associated with prediction making and motor preparation, reflecting upon the detection of feedback inconsistencies resulting in motivational shifts. Additionally, we predict distinct oscillatory patterns reflecting differential attribution processes.
Results will illuminate how feedback (in)consistency shapes agency perception and motivational states at the neural level. Understanding these mechanisms has implications for mental health, work- and educational settings and clinical interventions, particularly in conditions characterized by motivational deficits.