title: Tracking pattern learning with single-trial event-related potentials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim was to track the dynamics of pattern-learning using single-trial event-related potentials (ERPs). A new 'learning-oddball' paradigm was employed presenting eight random targets (the 'no-pattern') followed by eight regular targets (the 'pattern'). In total, six repetitions of the 'no-pattern' followed by the 'pattern' were presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  We traced the dynamics of learning by measuring responses to 16 (eight random-eight regular) targets. Since this alternation of the 'no-pattern' followed by the 'pattern' was repeated six times, we extracted single-trial responses to all 96 targets to determine if learning occurred more rapidly with each repetition of the 'pattern.'
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following random targets, ERPs contained a marked P3-N2 component that decreased to regular targets, whereas a contingent negative variation (CNV) appeared. ERP changes could be best described by sigmoid 'learning' curves. Single-trial analyses showed that learning occurred more rapidly over repetitions and suggested that the CNV developed prior to the decay of the N2-P3 component.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show a new paradigm-analysis methodology to track learning processes directly from brain signals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-trial ERPs analyses open a wide range of applications. Tracking the dynamic structure of cognitive functions may prove crucial in the understanding of learning and in the study of different pathologies.
authors.affiliation: NICI, Department of Biological Psychology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. jongsma@nici.ru.nl
authors.forename: Marijtje L A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jongsma
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eichele
authors.forename: Clementina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Van Rijn
authors.forename: Anton M L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hugdahl
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nordby
authors.forename: Rodrigo Quian
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Quiroga
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology