Are you sure about your choice? EEG correlates of decision confidence before and after reframing

Decision–making is pivotal in everyday life and can often be influenced by the framing effect, whereby the presentation of information influences decisions. This study investigates how reframing affects decision confidence in young adults. 46 healthy participants performed a resistance–to–reframe task, making work–related decisions by selecting the best option from four alternatives and rating their confidence before and after a negative reframing. Behavioural data and EEG frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma) were recorded. Reframing significantly affected decision confidence, especially initially, by increasing the complexity of choices. Increased reaction times after reframing reflected greater cognitive complexity due to perspective changes. EEG results showed significant activity in the delta, theta and alpha bands, with higher activation in the right frontal area (AF8). Reframing affects decision–making by increasing cognitive workload and modulating confidence, suggesting the role of executive functions and metacognition in managing uncertainty.