Abstract
Using a stepwise discriminant analysis, we demonstrate that the amplitude of P300 is a graded function of the complexity of information processing required of a S following a stimulus. This relationship between cognitive complexity and P300 is apparent only when the S is not pressed to generate fast and accurate discriminant responses to the stimuli. Under a reaction-time regime, a large P300 is elicited independently of stimulus predictability or cognitive complexity. It seems that P300 is a measure of the amount of activity of a general-purpose cortical processor.
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Supported by Grant OEG-5-70-01 30 (508) from the U.S. Office of Education and by Grant SF-GB-30999 from the National Science Foundation, both to E. Donchin, as well.as by the University of Illinois Research Board. W. R. Mead and Charles Warren participated in early phases of this project. We appreciate the help of Esther Williams and Sara Bruce of the Psychology Department’s computing facility. Preliminary reports on this investigation were read at the meetings of the Psychonomic Society, in St. Louis, Mo., in November 1971 and November 1972.
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Donchin, E., Kubovy, M., Kutas, M. et al. Graded changes in evoked response (P300) amplitude as a function of cognitive activity. Perception & Psychophysics 14, 319–324 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212398
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212398