Attention and entrainment: P3b varies as a function of temporal predictability

Neuroreport. 2009 Jan 7;20(1):31-6. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32831b4287.

Abstract

Recently, it has been shown that feature discrimination in temporally regular rhythms results in enhanced performance compared with feature discrimination in temporally irregular rhythms. In this study, we investigated the influence of temporal predictability on attentional processing. We show that temporal predictability of a sequence results in a decreased peak latency of the P3b compared with temporally random sequences. The present findings clearly illustrate that temporal predictability results in faster processing of deviant stimuli.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Discrimination Learning / physiology
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Set, Psychology
  • Time Perception / physiology*
  • Young Adult