P3 and ERD/ERS in a Visual Oddball Paradigm

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The present study investigates intracerebrally the concurrent occurrence of event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related desynchronization/synchronization phenomena (ERD/ERS) in subjects performing a visual oddball task. Methods: Evoked (P3) and induced ERD/ERS changes were studied in six subjects with drug-resistant epilepsy. Depth EEG activity from the mesiotemporal limbic structures (amygdala, hippocampus, and parahippocampal gyrus) was analyzed. We used an averaging of raw data to obtain ERPs, and an averaging of the amplitude/power envelope (complex demodulation) in five frequency bands: theta, α 1, α 2, beta, and gamma to obtain ERD/ERS. The P3 component of ERP and ERD/ERS in response to target and nontarget stimuli were evaluated. Results: Even though both P3 and ERD/ERS phenomena were observed in all of the investigated mesiotemporal regions, the most pronounced findings were revealed in the hippocampus. A P3 component of ERP was repeatedly observed in the hippocampus after target stimuli. Significant changes in the oscillatory hippocampal activity were found: ERD in the α 1 and α 2 frequency bands. Evident, near-significant changes were observed throughout the hippocampus in the theta band. No apparent ERD/ERS changes in the beta or in the gamma frequency band were seen in our intracerebral data. The distribution of the P3 and ERD/ERS maxima differed slightly in adjacent contacts, but occurred at the same time. Conclusions: The cognitive processing of visual information is simultaneously accompanied by several electrophysiological phenomena. In addition to ERPs, apparent changes in oscillatory activity were detected in the intracerebral recordings from mesiotemporal limbic structures. Timing of both neuronal processes seems to be simultaneous, but differing spatial distribution could reflect the involvement of different networks.