Principles of ERPs

Created by

Amber Foster

Cards (41)

What do ERPs show about brain function?
How the brain processes cognitive and sensory events
What do ERPs record to measure brain activity?
Brain activity using electrodes on the head
What is the significance of Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) in neuroscience?
Measure brain activity in response to stimuli
Help understand cognitive processing
Provide insights into sensory event processing
What are Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)?
Measurements of brain activity
What is done to the tiny signals recorded by electrodes?
They are amplified and averaged
What cognitive events can ERPs help study?
The dynamic flow of cognitive events
Which cognitive processes can ERPs study?
Attention, memory, and decision-making
How do ERPs help researchers understand brain responses?
By looking at responses to different events
What do the brown dots in the ERP setup represent?
Electrodes that record electrical activity
Why is high temporal resolution important for ERPs?
It pinpoints when brain processes occur
What is the temporal resolution of ERPs?
High temporal resolution
How do electrodes contribute to ERP measurements?
They measure electrical activity in response to stimuli
What do ERP waveforms represent?
Patterns of brain responses to stimuli
How do ERPs measure brain activity?
Millisecond-by-millisecond activity
How do ERPs contribute to understanding brain function?
They show how brain areas work together
What happens when a stimulus is presented in ERP studies?
The electrodes measure the brain's electrical activity
What happens to the electrical activity recorded by electrodes?
It is amplified and averaged over trials
How do ERPs help researchers?
They study cognitive processes at the neural level
What does peak-to-peak amplitude measure in an ERP waveform?
The distance between positive and negative peaks
What are the two main components of an ERP waveform?
Peak-to-peak amplitude and latency
Why do researchers average the signals in ERP studies?
To investigate cognitive processes like memory and attention
What cognitive processes can be investigated using ERPs?
Memory and attention
What are the advantages and limitations of using ERPs in psychological research?
Advantages:
High temporal resolution
Non-invasive
Cost-effective

Limitations:
Low spatial resolution
Susceptible to artifacts
How do ERPs differ from other brain measurement methods?
They measure activity in milliseconds
What is the most common wave component in visual ERPs?
The P100 wave
How do artifacts affect ERP recordings?
External factors can interfere with recordings
What is the significance of averaging electrical activity in ERP studies?
Averaging reveals clearer ERP waveforms
What is the setup for measuring ERPs?
Electrodes record electrical activity
Activity is amplified and averaged
Reveals ERP waveforms over repeated trials
Why is high temporal resolution an advantage of ERPs?
It allows precise timing of cognitive processes
What is a limitation of ERPs regarding spatial resolution?
They cannot pinpoint exact brain locations
How are ERPs recorded?
Using electrodes placed on the scalp
What is a susceptibility issue with ERPs?
They are susceptible to artifacts
What does latency refer to in an ERP waveform?
The time from stimulus to wave peak
What do ERPs help identify in brain activity?
Which areas activate first
What makes ERPs cost-effective?
They are relatively inexpensive to conduct
When does the P100 wave typically occur after stimulus onset?
At 100ms
What are the key components of an ERP waveform and their significance?
Peak-to-peak amplitude: Measures the distance between positive and negative peaks.
Latency: Indicates the time from stimulus presentation to wave peak.
P100 wave: Common visual ERP component occurring at 100ms after stimulus onset.
What is a non-invasive characteristic of ERPs?
No surgical procedures are required
What is one advantage of using ERPs?
High temporal resolution
How does the non-invasive nature of ERPs benefit research?
It minimizes risk to participants