Electrophysiological correlates of visual identity negative priming

Negative priming (NP) refers to the finding that the processing of stimuli previously ignored is usually impaired in terms of reaction times and error rates. Although a robust empirical phenomenon, behavioral experiments were not able to ultimately distinguish between retrieval- and inhibition-based accounts of NP. Electrophysiological measures may help improve our understanding of this phenomenon. In this paper, we report an ERP correlate of identity NP with visual stimuli. In particular, we observed an enhanced N200 component when a distractor from the previous trial became the target in the next trial. This N200 modulation is explained in terms of a stronger response conflict when a previously ignored target must be selected against incompatible, and not previously ignored distractors; this interpretation is discussed as evidence for an inhibition view of NP.