Santamaría García, H. , Panunzi, M. . , Deco, G. & Sebastián-Gallés, N.
Brain And Cognition Unit Universidad Pompeu Fabra Barcelona
Many studies have shown that the hierarchical status can influence the behavior and some cognitive process in humans. In a computerized game we constructed a social hierarchy. Based on skills in a visual discrimination task we evaluated if comparisons with the other participants can influence the performance during the task. Participants were always in the second place during the game and compared their results with two other simulated players, an upper and a lower. Globally, participants were better and faster when they made the task comparing their results with the results of the high status player. In addition they gradually improved their performance in this context. Secondly observing the time course of the event related potentials, we compared the register elicited when participants were playing the previous visual discrimination task with superior and inferior players. Two time windows were analyzed, reflecting differences in early perceptual process (< 300 ms) and the late /attentional decisional process (300 and 700 ms). Our results support a significant influence of social status on human behavior and the primary cognitive processes. A possible top down modulation of the social hierarchy can be produced even in the early stages of the decisional process.