Neural Correlates of Subjective Awareness and Unconscious Processing: An ERP Study

The aim of the present study was to dissociate the ERP (Event Related Potentials) correlates of subjective awareness from those of unconscious perception. In a backward masking paradigm, participants first produced a forced-choice response to the location of a liminal target presented for an individually calibrated duration, and then reported on their subjective awareness of the target's presence. We recorded (Event-Related Potentials) ERPs and compared the ERP waves when observers reported being aware vs. unaware of the target but localized it correctly, thereby isolating the neural correlates of subjective awareness while controlling for differences in objective performance. In addition, we compared the ERPs when participants were subjectively unaware of the target's presence and localized it correctly versus incorrectly, thereby isolating the neural correlates of unconscious perception. All conditions involved stimuli that were physically identical and were presented for the same duration. Both behavioral measures were associated with modulation of the amplitude of the P3 component of the ERP. Importantly, this modulation was widely spread across all scalp locations for subjective awareness, but was restricted to the parietal electrodes for unconscious perception. These results indicate that liminal stimuli that do not affect performance undergo considerable processing and that subjective awareness is associated with a late wave of activation with widely distributed topography.

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Behavioral and Electrophysiologic Evidence of Auditory Processing Disorder: A Twin Study

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1716007 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (08) ◽

pp. 438-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James Jerger ◽

Linda Thibodeau ◽

Jeffrey Martin ◽

Jyutika Mehta ◽

Gail Tillman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standardized Tests ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Auditory Processing Disorder ◽

Auditory Information ◽

Gap Detection ◽

Backward Masking ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Normal Limits ◽

Related Potentials

We administered a battery of both behavioral and electrophysiologic measures to a pair of fraternal twin girls, one of whom exhibited symptoms consistent with an auditory processing disorder. Both twins were within normal limits on standardized tests of cognitive and language skills. Basic audiometric measures, as well as behavioral tests of simultaneous masking, backward masking, gap detection, and frequency-sweep discrimination, showed little difference between the twins. Significant differences, however, were evident on event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to both within-channel and across-channel gap detection tasks. Substantial differences were also noted for ERPs to both linguistic and nonlinguistic targets in dichotic listening paradigms. The pattern of electrophysiologic results was consistent with a deficit in the efficiency of interhemispheric transfer of auditory information. A possible reason for the greater effectiveness of electrophysiologic over behavioral measures is discussed.

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Bilingual and monolingual adults learning an additional language: ERPs reveal differences in syntactic processing

Bilingualism Language and Cognition ◽

10.1017/s1366728917000426 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 970-994 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

SARAH GREY ◽

CRISTINA SANZ ◽

KARA MORGAN-SHORT ◽

MICHAEL T. ULLMAN

Keyword(s):

Native Speakers ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Syntactic Processing ◽

Artificial Language ◽

Grammar Instruction ◽

Behavioral Differences ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Better Than

It has been suggested that bilinguals learn additional languages ‘better’ than monolinguals. However, evidence is sparse, particularly for grammar. We examined behavioral and neural correlates of learning an additional (artificial) language in early Mandarin–English bilinguals, compared to English monolinguals. Following grammar instruction, participants practiced comprehension and production, and judged grammaticality at low and high proficiency while event-related potentials (ERPs) were acquired. Bilinguals and monolinguals did not differ on behavioral measures, but showed distinct ERP patterns. At low proficiency only bilinguals showed a P600, a common ERP correlate of syntactic processing in native speakers of languages. At high proficiency both groups showed P600s, though the monolinguals also evidenced an anterior positivity not typically found in native speakers of languages during syntactic processing. These findings suggest that, even without bilingual/monolingual behavioral differences, bilinguals show ERP patterns for an additional language that are more similar to those of native speakers of languages.

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Neural correlates of error-monitoring and mindset: Back to the drawing board?

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0254322 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0254322

Author(s):

Tieme W. P. Janssen ◽

Smiddy Nieuwenhuis ◽

Jamie Hoefakker ◽

Patricia D. Dreier Gligoor ◽

Milene Bonte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Event Related Potentials ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Error Monitoring ◽

Contextual Influences ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Stimulus Processing ◽

Related Potentials ◽

The Relationship ◽

Previous Error ◽

Mindset Theory

The different ways students deal with mistakes is an integral part of mindset theory. While previous error-monitoring studies found supporting neural evidence for mindset-related differences, they may have been confounded by overlapping stimulus processing. We therefore investigated the relationship between mindset and event-related potentials (ERPs) of error-monitoring (response-locked Ne, Pe), with and without overlap correction. In addition, besides behavioral measures of remedial action after errors (post-error slowing and accuracy), we investigated their neural correlates (stimulus-locked N2). Results indicated comparable Ne, but larger Pe amplitudes in fixed-minded students; however, after overlap correction, the Pe results were rendered non-significant. A likely explanation for this overlap was a near-significant effect of mindset on the preceding stimulus P3. Finally, although N2 was larger for trials following errors, mindset was unrelated. The current study shows that the relationship between error-monitoring and mindset is more complex and should be reconsidered. Future studies are advised to explore stimulus processing as well, and if needed, to correct for stimulus overlap. In addition, contextual influences on and individual variation in error-monitoring need more scrutiny, which may contribute to refining mindset theory.

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Neural correlates of error-monitoring and mindset: back to the drawing board?

10.31234/osf.io/pwjht ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tieme Willem Pieter Janssen ◽

Smiddy Nieuwenhuis ◽

Jamie Hoefakker ◽

Patricia D. Dreier Gligoor ◽

Milene Bonte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Event Related Potentials ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Error Monitoring ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Stimulus Processing ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Drawing Board ◽

The Relationship ◽

Monitoring Response ◽

Previous Error

The different ways students deal with mistakes is an integral part of mindset theory. While previous error-monitoring studies found supporting neural evidence for mindset-related differences, they may have been confounded by overlapping stimulus processing. We therefore investigated the relationship between mindset and event-related potentials (ERPs) of error-monitoring (response-locked Ne, Pe), with and without overlap correction. In addition, besides behavioral measures of remedial action after errors (increased post-error slowing and accuracy), we investigated their neural correlates (enhanced stimulus-locked N2). Results indicated comparable Ne, but larger Pe amplitudes in fixed-minded students; however, after overlap correction, the Pe results were rendered non-significant. A likely explanation for this overlap was a near-significant effect of mindset on the preceding stimulus P3. Finally, although N2 was larger for trials following errors, mindset was unrelated. The current study shows that the relationship between error-monitoring and mindset is more complex and should be reconsidered. Future studies are advised to explore stimulus processing as well, and if needed, to correct for stimulus overlap.

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Age does not necessarily influence latency of event-related potentials

Nervenheilkunde ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1627735 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 33 (10) ◽

pp. 723-727

Author(s):

M. Westermann ◽

I. W. Husstedt ◽

A. Okegwo ◽

S. Evers

Keyword(s):

Normal Values ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Intrinsic Property ◽

Total Sample ◽

Oddball Paradigm ◽

Age Dependent ◽

Related Potentials ◽

The Mean ◽

P3 Component

SummaryEvent-related potentials (ERP) are regarded as age dependent. However, it is not known whether this is an intrinsic property of ERP or an extrinsic factor. We designed a setting in which ERP were evoked using a modified oddball paradigm with highly differentiable and detectable target and non-target stimuli. A total of 98 probands were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the latency and amplitude of the P3 component of visually evoked ERP. The mean P3 latency was 294 ± 28 ms and was not related to age (r = –0.089; p = 0.382; Spearman-rank-correlation). The P3 amplitude was related to age in the total sample (r = –0.323; p = 0.001; Spearmanrank-correlation) but not in the probands under the age of 60 years. There were no significant differences regarding sex. Our findings suggest that ERP are not age dependent if highly differentiable and detectable stimuli are used. This should be considered when normal values of ERP are created for clinical use.

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Absence of Face-specific Cortical Activity in the Complete Absence of Awareness: Converging Evidence from Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Event-related Potentials

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00137 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 396-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Valia Rodríguez ◽

Russell Thompson ◽

Mark Stokes ◽

Matthew Brett ◽

Indira Alvarez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Face Detection ◽

Brain Area ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Backward Masking ◽

Imaging Data ◽

Perceptual Awareness ◽

Related Activity ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Frontal Operculum ◽

Detailed Assessment

In this study, we explored the neural correlates of perceptual awareness during a masked face detection task. To assess awareness more precisely than in previous studies, participants employed a 4-point scale to rate subjective visibility. An event-related fMRI and a high-density ERP study were carried out. Imaging data showed that conscious face detection was linked to activation of fusiform and occipital face areas. Frontal and parietal regions, including the pre-SMA, inferior frontal sulcus, anterior insula/frontal operculum, and intraparietal sulcus, also responded strongly when faces were consciously perceived. In contrast, no brain area showed face-selective activity when participants reported no impression of a face. ERP results showed that conscious face detection was associated with enhanced N170 and also with the presence of a second negativity around 300 msec and a slow positivity around 415 msec. Again, face-related activity was absent when faces were not consciously perceived. We suggest that, under conditions of backward masking, ventral stream and fronto-parietal regions show similar, strong links of face-related activity to conscious perception and stress the importance of a detailed assessment of awareness to examine activity related to unseen stimulus events.

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Automaticity of Early Sexual Attention: An Event-Related Potential Study

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/10790632211024241 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107906322110242

Author(s):

Anastasios Ziogas ◽

Benedikt Habermeyer ◽

Wolfram Kawohl ◽

Elmar Habermeyer ◽

Andreas Mokros

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Sexual Interest ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Forensic Assessment ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Sexual Preferences ◽

Motor Responses ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Promising Line

A promising line of research on forensic assessment of paraphilic sexual interest focuses on behavioral measures of visual attention using sexual stimuli as distractors. The present study combined event-related potentials (ERPs) with behavioral measures to investigate whether detection of a hidden sexual preference can be improved with ERPs. Normal variants of sexual orientation were used for a proof-of-concept investigation. Accordingly, 40 heterosexual and 40 gay men participated in the study. Within each group, half of the participants were instructed to hide their sexual orientation. The results showed that a match between sexual orientation and stimulus delays responses and influences ERP before motor responses. Late ERP components showed higher potential in differentiating hidden sexual preferences than motor responses, thereby showing how ERPs can be used in combination with reaction time measures to potentially facilitate the detection of hidden sexual preferences.

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Neuroplasticity in Music Learning

The Oxford Handbook of Music and the Brain ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198804123.013.22 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 545-563

Author(s):

Vesa Putkinen ◽

Mari Tervaniemi

Keyword(s):

Speech Processing ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Brain Function ◽

Musical Training ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Training Transfer ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Music Learning ◽

Functional Brain ◽

Related Potentials

Studies conducted during the last three decades have identified numerous differences between musicians and non-musicians in neural correlates of sensory, motor, and higher-order cognitive functions. Research employing event-related potentials/fields has been particularly important in this framework. This chapter reviews the evidence that has emerged from these studies with emphasis on longitudinal studies comparing functional brain development in children taking music lessons and those engaged in non-musical activities. The literature provides empirical and theoretical grounds for concluding that musical training enhances sound encoding skills that are relevant for both music and speech processing. The question whether the benefits of musical training transfer to more distantly related cognitive functions remains controversial, however. Finally, it appears likely that training-induced plasticity alone does not account for the differences in brain function between musicians and non-musicians and, conversely, that predisposing factors also play a role.

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Object maintenance beyond their visible parts in working memory

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00469.2017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 119 (1) ◽

pp. 347-355 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Siyi Chen ◽

Thomas Töllner ◽

Hermann J. Müller ◽

Markus Conci

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Change Detection ◽

Visual Working Memory ◽

Memory Load ◽

Mental Image ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Visual Input ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Physically Identical ◽

Partially Occluded

Completion of a partially occluded object requires that a representation of the whole is constructed based on the information provided by the physically specified parts of the stimulus. Such processes of amodal completion rely on the generation and maintenance of a mental image that renders the completed object in visual working memory (VWM). The present study examined this relationship between VWM storage and processes of object completion. We recorded event-related potentials to track VWM maintenance by means of the contralateral delay activity (CDA) during a change detection task in which composite objects (notched shapes abutting an occluding shape) to be memorized were primed to induce either a globally completed object or a noncompleted, mosaic representation. The results revealed an effect of completion in VWM despite physically identical visual input: change detection was more accurate for completed compared with mosaic representations when observers were required to memorize two objects, and these differences were reduced with four memorized items. At the electrophysiological level, globally completed (vs. mosaic) objects gave rise to a corresponding increase in CDA amplitudes. These results indicate that although incorporating the occluded portions of the presented shapes requires mnemonic resources, the complete object representations thus formed in VWM improve change detection performance by providing a more simple, regular shape. Overall, these findings demonstrate that mechanisms of object completion modulate VWM, with the memory load being determined by the structured representations of the memorized stimuli. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that completion of partially occluded objects requires visual working memory (VWM) resources. In the experiment reported, we induced observers to memorize a given visual input either as completed or as noncompleted objects. The results revealed both a behavioral performance advantage for completed vs. noncompleted objects despite physically identical input, and an associated modulation of an electrophysiological component that reflects VWM object retention, thus indicating that constructing an integrated object consumes mnemonic resources.

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Neurophysiological Manifestations of Recollective Experience during Recognition Memory Judgments

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn.1993.5.1.1 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 267

Author(s):

Michael E. Smith

Keyword(s):

Recognition Memory ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Subjective Response ◽

General Sense ◽

Subjective Awareness ◽

Different Types ◽

Conscious Recollection ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Internal Experience

Decisions regarding whether an item has been previously encountered are typically accompanied by one of two distinct forms of subjective awareness: either a general sense of familiarity, or conscious recollection of specific details from a prior study episode. To examine the neurophysiological concomitants of these different types of internal experience, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects engaged in a modified recognition memory procedure that required them to describe their subjective response during each testtrial. Stimuli that evoked recollection were accompanied by waveforms distinct from those that evoked only a sense of familiarity, and waveforms for both categories of correctly classified old items differed from correctly rejected distractor items and incorrectly classified (missed) studied items. These ERP responses are interpreted with respect to current knowledge concerning the neural structures and processes intimately involved in the capacity to engage in recollection.

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