N400 (neuroscience)

The N400 is a component of time-locked EEG signals known as event-related potentials (ERP). It is a negative-going deflection that peaks around 400 milliseconds post-stimulus onset, although it can extend from 250-500 ms, and is typically maximal over centro-parietal electrode sites. The N400 is part of the normal brain response to words and other meaningful (or potentially meaningful) stimuli, including visual and auditory words, sign language signs, pictures, faces, environmental sounds, and smells.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ Kutas M, Federmeier KD (December 2000). "Electrophysiology reveals semantic memory use in language comprehension". Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 4 (12): 463–470. doi:10.1016/s1364-6613(00)01560-6. PMID 11115760. S2CID 51425.
  2. ^ Kutas M, Federmeier KD (2011). "Thirty years and counting: finding meaning in the N400 component of the event-related brain potential (ERP)". Annual Review of Psychology. 62: 621–647. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.131123. PMC 4052444. PMID 20809790.
  3. ^ (See Kutas & Federmeier, 2009, for review)