title: Pre-stimulus alpha phase-alignment predicts P1-amplitude.
abstract: Since years there is a hotly discussed dispute whether event-related potentials are either generated by an evoked component or by resetting of ongoing phase. We argue that phase-reset must not be proven in order to accept the general involvement of phase in ERP-generation as it is only one of several possible mechanisms influencing or generating certain ERP-components. Supporting data are presented showing that positive peaks of ongoing pre-stimulus alpha activity are not randomly distributed in time across trials. Most importantly, we found that a certain kind of pre-stimulus phase concentration that represents a continuous development of an alpha wave up to the time window where the P1 is generated is associated with an enlarged event-related component. We conclude that ongoing oscillations cannot be considered random background noise (even before stimulus onset) and that there are probably more phase-mechanisms that can contribute to the ERP-generation.
authors.affiliation: University of Salzburg, Department of Physiological Psychology, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fellinger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klimesch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freunberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doppelmayr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult