Bragdon, Beth C.Lizano, PauloLyons, Victoria Joy2026-02-102026-02-102025https://hdl.handle.net/2144/522362025BACKGROUND: Cognitive flexibility is an integral skill for survival that allows individuals to switch between thinking about different concepts according to the context of a situation (Uddin, 2021). Cognitive flexibility can be evaluated in a number of ways, but set shifting paradigms are often preferred due to their ability to isolate cognitive flexibility from other cognitive control domains. In this study, a novel eye-tracking set shifting paradigm (FLEX paradigm) was used alongside EEG monitoring to understand the neurophysiology of cognitive flexibility, and to confirm the validity of the FLEX paradigm. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cognitive flexibility of individuals based on the novel FLEX eye-tracking set shifting paradigm and confirm the paradigm’s validity. Additionally, to analyze how P300 and FRN ERP amplitude differ when an individual receives the first positive feedback after negative feedback, compared to other positive feedback. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy young adults between the ages of 18-25 in the Athens-Clarke County area were recruited through flyers around the University of Georgia (UGA) campus buildings and UGA’s online psychology undergraduate participant pool platform for a set shifting paradigm with EEG monitoring. Two participants were excluded due to incomplete eye-tracking and EEG data. This data was analyzed using MATLAB and R Studio. RESULTS: Participants performed poorly overall upon an unannounced set shift, but were mostly able to perform correctly by the second trial after a set shift. This indicates that participants were able to be cognitively flexible and change strategy once the previous one stopped working. Averaged P300 microvoltage amplitude was prominent in the Cz and Pz electrodes, but FRN was not. FRN amplitudes were not seen. EEG data was easier to analyze due to the lack of behavioral activity required for the FLEX set-shifting paradigm, and produced strong results as a valid measure of cognitive flexibility. CONCLUSIONS: This research validated the association of P300 with reward, and indicated that the saliency of reward was stronger when receiving “correct” feedback after “incorrect” feedback than back-to-back “correct” feedback. This research also validated the use of the FLEX paradigm to study cognitive flexibility.en-USAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/NeurosciencesPsychologyCognitive flexibilityEEGFLEX paradigmP300Thesis/Dissertation2026-02-10