The recording of event related brain potentials (ERPs) and event related magnetic fields
(ERFs)
axon
skull
pia mater
dura mater
The recording of event related brain potentials
active
relaxed
sleepy
sleep
deep sleep
coma
EEG Frequency BandsType Frequency (Hz) NormallyDelta up to 4 adults slow wave sleep
in babiesTheta 4 – 7 Hz young children
drowsiness or arousal in older children and adults
idlingAlpha 8 – 12 Hz relaxed/reflecting
closing the eyes
comaBeta 12 – 30 Hz alert/working
active, busy or anxious thinking, active concentration
Gamma 30 – 100 + certain cognitive or motor functions
EEG-activity
Auditory ERP
auditory stimulus
Onset Stimulus
Time (in milliseconds)
amplifier
signal averaging
Electrode configuration
Cognition related ERPs
Labelling conventions of ERP components and ERP effects
• Descriptive labelling:
P300, N400, N280, P1, N1
• Functional labelling:
Mismatch Negativity (MMN)
Error related negativity (ERN)
Syntactic Positive Shift (SPS)
Multidimensional nature of ERPs
• Polarity. N: negative goingP: positive going
• Latency. Exogenous componentsEndogenous components
• Amplitude
• Topographic distribution
Multidimensional nature of ERPs
Qualitatively different underlying processes show up in a qualitatively different way in the ERP waveform
(in contrast to RTs)
Discourse N400-effect
Sentence N400-effect
Van Berkum, Hagoort, & Brown, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 1999
ERP effects vs components
An ERP effect is a modulation (mostly in amplitude) of a particular ERP component,
or just the difference between two conditions in the ERP waveform
N400 vs N400 effect
Brain activity for different word types250 ms
Content words Function words
+ 10 -10 V
ERPs vs. RTs
• Multidimensional nature of the signal
• Continuous nature of the signal
• No additional task requirements
Two definitions of ERP components
• A functional definition:
An ERP component is an aspect of the ERP waveform for which the polarity, latency, and topographic distribution are related to a specific cognitive process
Two definitions of ERP components
• A physiological definition
An ERP component is the scalp recorded activity of specific neural generators (or an ensemble of generators) in the brain.
Recording of ERPs and ERFs
Strength:
- high temporal resolution- direct measure of neural activity
Weakness:- measures only a part of the neural activity (open field)
- poor spatial resolution (inverse problem)
Hemodynamic method vs. ERP/ERF
- Neural activity does not have to be synchronous.
- Geometric orientation of the activated neurons is irrelevant.
- The amplitude of the signal is not only determined by the change in neural activity, but also by its duration.
- Changes in neural activity will only be picked up if these changes have a consequence for the net metabolic demand of the cells.
Neville et al. 1991
Neville et al. 1991
Hagoort et al. 2003, Fig. 1
Syntactic condition:Correct: De houthakker ontweek de ijdele schroef op dinsdag.(The lumberjack dodged the vain propeller on Tuesday.)Violation: De houthakker ontweek de ijdele schroeft op dinsdag.(The lumberjack dodged the vain propelled on Tuesday.)
Friederici et al. 1993, Fig. 1
Friederici et al. 1993, Fig. 2
Friederici et al. 1993, Fig. 3
Friederici et al. 1993, Fig. 4
Hahne & Friederici 2002, Fig. 1
(1) Correct Das Brot wurde gegessen.(The bread was eaten)(2) Semantically incorrect Der Vulkan wurde gegessen.(The volcano was eaten)(3) Syntactically incorrect Das Eis wurde im gegessen.(The ice cream was in-the eaten)(4) Semantically and syntactically incorrect Das Türschloß wurde im gegessen.(The door lock was in-the eaten)
Van den Brink & Hagoort 2004, Fig. 2
Fully congruent (phon +, sem +, syn +) Het vrouwtje veegde de vloer met een oude bezem gemaakt van twijgen(The woman swept the floor with an old broom made of twigs)Initially congruent (phon +, sem , syn ) Het vrouwtje veegde de vloer met een oude bedelde gemaakt van twijgen(The woman swept the floor with an old begged made of twigs)Fully incongruent (phon , sem , syn ) Het vrouwtje veegde de vloer met een oude kliederde gemaakt van twijgen(The woman swept the floor with an old messed made of twigs)
Hagoort 2003, Fig. 2
Korrekt
De kapotte paraplu staat in de garage.
Semantische Verletzung
De eerlijke paraplu staat in de garage.
Syntaktische Verletzung (Genuskongruenz)
Het kapotte paraplu staat in de garage.
Semantische und syntaktische Verletzung
Het eerlijke paraplu staat in de garage.
Dercommon/neuter kaputte/ehrliche Schirm steht in der Garage.
Art der Verletzung ERP-Effekt
1. semantisch N400
2. syntaktischa) Phrasenstruktur-Verletzung/ Wortkategorie-Verletzung
ELAN (early left anterior negativity)P600(N400) -> eher anteriore Negativität
a1) unerwartete Phrasen P600zentrale-posteriore Negativität (400ms)
b) Kongruenz zentrale-okzipitale Negativität (300- 400ms)
b1) S-V-Kongruenz NUM P600zentrale-okzipitale Negativität (300- 400ms)
b2) DET-N-Kongruenz GEN P600(N400 boost)
Friederici & Frisch 2000
*Anna weiß, dass der Kommissar (NOM) denBanker (ACC) abbeizte (V) und wegging.
Anna weiß, dass der Kommissar (NOM) denBanker (ACC) abhörte (V) und wegging.
Friederici & Frisch 2000
*Anna weiß, dass der Kommissar (NOM) denBanker (ACC) abreiste (V) und wegging.
Anna weiß, dass der Kommissar (NOM) denBanker (ACC) abhörte (V) und wegging.
Osterhout et al. 1994
The judge …
Osterhout et al. 1994
For breakfast the boys would eat toast and jam.
For breakfast the boys would plant flowers in the garden.
N400 effect, small P600 effect
For breakfast the boys would eat toast and jam.
For breakfast the eggs would eat toast and jam.
P600 effect, no N400 effect
Kuperberg et al. (2007)
For breakfast the boys would eat toast and jam.
For breakfast the eggs would plant flowers in the garden.
P600 effect, no N400 effect
The meal was devouring. (Kim and Osterhout, 2005)P600, no N400The dusty tabletops were devouring thoroughly.N400, no P600Control: The hearty meal was devoured..
The javelin has thrown the athletes. (Hoeks et al., 2004; Dutch)P600, no N400
The cat that from the mice fled ran across the room. (Kolk et al. 2003; Dutch)P600, no N400
Zuweisung grammatischer/thematischer Rollen vor dem Verb
Schlesewsky & Bornkessel (2006), Fig. 2
dass Richard Künstlerinnen gesehen hat,
dass Richard Künstlerinnen gesehen haben
dass Richard Künstlerinnen gedankt hat
dass Richard Künstlerinnen gedankt haben
Unterschied zwischen Reanalyse
Subjekt/Agens > direktes Objekt/Thema (P600)
und
Subjekt/Agens > indirektes Objekt/Rezipient (N400)
Schlesewsky & Bornkessel (2006), Fig. 4
Vielleicht gefällt Richard dem Regisseur…
Vielleicht gefällt Richard der Regisseur…
Vielleicht droht Richard dem Regisseur…
Vielleicht droht Richard der Regisseur…
Unterschied zwischen Reanalyse
Subjekt/Agens > indirektes Objekt/Rezipient (N400, P600)
und
Subjekt/Thema > indirektes Objekt/Experiencer (N400)
Bornkessel et al. (2002), Fig. 1
unambiguous(1)…dass der Professor
dem Gärtner dankt/gefällt
that [the professor]-a NOMINATIVE[the
gardener]- DATIVE thanks/pleases
that the Professor thanks/is pleasing to the
gardener
> Reanalyse
Subjekt/Agens > Subject/Experiencer
Änderung der thematischen aber nicht der grammatischen Rolle
ruft frühe Positivität hervor
Bornkessel et al. (2002), Fig. 2
ambiguous
(2)..dass Maria Sängerinnen dankt/gefällt
that Maria-AMB singers-AMB thanks/pleases
that Maria thanks/is pleasing to singers
>
Der Effekt tritt nicht auf, wenn die NPs keinen Hinweis auf thematische/grammatische
Rollen geben