title: Electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) with human participants.
abstract: Understanding the basic neural processes that underlie complex higher-order cognitive operations and functional domains is a fundamental goal of cognitive neuroscience. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive and relatively inexpensive method for assessing neurophysiological function that can be used to achieve this goal. EEG measures the electrical activity of large, synchronously firing populations of neurons in the brain with electrodes placed on the scalp. This unit outlines the basics of setting up an EEG experiment with human participants, including equipment, and a step-by-step guide to applying and preparing an electrode cap. Also included are support protocols for two event-related potential (ERP) paradigms, P50 suppression, and mismatch negativity (MMN), which are measures of early sensory processing. These paradigms can be used to assess the integrity of early sensory processing in normal individuals and clinical populations, such as individuals with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Lisa E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minow
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sprock
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rissling
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Neal R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Braff
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D016477:Artifacts; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors