Event-related potentials and their applications

Abstract

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are characterised as brain voltage fluctuations associated in time with some physical or mental occurrence and represent a non-invasive technique reflecting activity of complex neuronal networks responsible for new stimuli detection and discriminative behaviour of individuals. ERPs are measured using electroencephalography and their applications became widespread since 1960s of the last century. This review brings introduction into the ERPs technique and characteristics of the individual ERPs components (particularly wave P300, Contingent Negative Variation, Mismatch Negativity and Bereitschaftspotential). In addition, it summarizes changes of ERPs associated with neurologic and psychiatric diseases and finally, it mentions possible use of this approach for purposes of experimental psychology.