Event-Related Potentials (ERPs): a technique to study brain functioning during information processing

Abstract

Event-related potentials (ERPs) electrophysiological technique has been used for decades as a reliable neurophysiological tool for the study of sensory, motor, and cognitive processes. This technique captures the brain’s electrical activity signal synchronized with a particular event, such as the appearance of an auditory stimulus, a written word, or an image. Given the high temporal resolution offered by ERPs, it is possible to study rigorously the course and temporal dynamics of the neural processes involved in information processing. Furthermore, ERPs are also reliable neurophysiological markers for the diagnosis of sensitive pathways disorders and are useful in the study of brain function disorders such as injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. Accordingly, we consider it relevant to carry out a general review of the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of ERPs.