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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
Published on: July 5, 2015
Electrophysiological correlates of attention, inhibition, sensitivity and bias in a continuous performance task
E M Bekker1, J L Kenemans, M N Verbaten
1Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Sorbonnelaan 16, P.O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.m.bekker@pharm.uu.nl
Objective:
The aim was to verify the occurrence of proposed electrophysiological correlates of attention, inhibition, sensitivity and bias in a continuous performance task and to support their functional interpretation by using a manipulation intended to enhance subjects' response bias.
Methods:
Electroencephalographic activity was recorded during administration of a transformed version of the AX continuous performance task in which cues signaled response alternatives.
Results:
The previously reported parietal P3, NoGo-N2, NoGo-P3 and contingent negative variation were replicated. Besides, the frontal selection positivity and the lateralized readiness potential were demonstrated. With increasing Go-probability, the parietal P3 to the cue increased without changes in other cue-related correlates. In addition, reaction times decreased, non-parametric measures of sensitivity and bias decreased, the NoGo-N2 increased, and the parietal Go-P3 decreased.
Conclusions:
The proposed electrophysiological correlates were identified. Sub-threshold LRPs suggested a central inhibition mechanism. Cue-related correlates revealed that anticipation of a high-probability Go-stimulus involves attention rather than bias. This implies that the increased NoGo-N2 reflected an increase in conflict rather than an increase in inhibition.
Significance:
Electrophysiological measures can greatly enhance our understanding of normal and abnormal information processing during continuous performance and related tasks.
