event-related potential

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are consistent patterns of electrical activity in the brain that occur in response to specific sensory information. These electrical changes are recorded from electrodes placed on the scalp using a technique called electroencephalography (EEG). ERPs are composed of positive and negative electrical peaks that change systematically based on the properties of the stimulus.

These components of the ERP provide insights into various aspects of information processing within the brain. For instance, certain ERP components are related to attention, showing larger responses when an individual is paying close attention to a stimulus. Other components, like the contingent negative variation (CNV), are associated with preparatory states when anticipating a response to an expected signal. ERPs offer a non-invasive way to study cognitive processes in both healthy and disordered brains.