The event-related potential (ERP) technique, in which neural responses to specific events are extracted from the EEG, provides a powerful noninvasive tool for exploring the human brain. This volume describes practical methods for ERP research along with the underlying theoretical rationale. It offers researchers and students an essential guide to designing, conducting, and analyzing ERP experiments. This second edition has been completely updated, with additional material, new chapters, and more accessible explanations. Freely available supplementary material, including several online-only chapters, offer expanded or advanced treatment of selected topics. The first half of the book presents essential background information, describing the origins of ERPs, the nature of ERP components, and the design of ERP experiments. The second half of the book offers a detailed treatment of the main steps involved in conducting ERP experiments, covering such topics as recording the EEG, filtering the EEG and ERP waveforms, and quantifying amplitudes and latencies. Throughout, the emphasis is on rigorous experimental design and relatively simple analyses. New material in the second edition includes entire chapters devoted to components, artifacts, measuring amplitudes and latencies, and statistical analysis; updated coverage of recording technologies; concrete examples of experimental design; and many more figures. Online chapters cover such topics as overlap, localization, writing and reviewing ERP papers, and setting up and running an ERP lab.
AnI nt r oduc t i ont ot heE v ent Rel a t ed Pot ent i a l T ec hni que, s ec ondedi t i on S t ev enJ . L uc k
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[email protected] This book was set in Times LT Std by Toppan Best-set Premedia Limited, Hong Kong. Printed and bound in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Luck, Steven J. (Steven John), 1963– author. An introduction to the event-related potential technique / Steven J. Luck—Second edition. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-262-52585-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) I. Title. [DNLM: 1. Evoked Potentials. WL 102] QP376.5 616.8'047547—dc23 2013041747 10
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A Broad Overview of the Event-Related Potential Technique
Overview, Goals, and Perspective of This Book
The event-related potential (ERP) technique provides a powerful method for exploring the human mind and brain, and the goal of this book is to describe practical methods and underlying concepts that will help you conduct great ERP research. The first half of this book focuses on essential background information. This first chapter is an overview that is intended for people who are new to ERPs. The second chapter provides a closer look at ERPs, exploring issues that lurk below the surface of almost every ERP study. The third chapter is an overview of the most common and useful ERP components. The fourth chapter describes the design of ERP experiments; its goal is to help you design your own experiments and critically evaluate published research. The second half of this book provides a detailed explanation of the main steps involved in actually conducting ERP experime