Selective attention in the presence of music: an event-related potentials (ERP) study

The present study was aimed at investigating selective attention in the presence of music as expressed by ERPs. The experiments were performed with 7 subjects. A two-channel auditory frequency discrimination task (target - 1000 Hz, standard - 1550 Hz tones) in a dichotic listening environment was employed. The EEG was recorded from Fz, Cz, Pz, C3 and C4. The EOG and performance data were also collected. A smaller and delayed N1 amplitude as well as changes in the two components of the processing negativity in the presence of music were found. N2 and P3 components only delay with music was observed. The changes in the level of performance were not significant.