Comprehensive analysis suggests simple processes underlying EEG/ERP – Demonstration with the go/no-go paradigm in ADHD

Abstract Background Current basic or more advanced methods for analysis of averaged EEG/ERP are based on assumptions on the underlying processes, which are not necessarily precise. New method In this work we present the findings of a method which obviates such assumptions and aims at a comprehensive analysis of the averaged EEG/ERP signal. Results For the sake of demonstration we chose the established go/no-go paradigm in the context of ADHD. Our analysis method characterized two spatiotemporally distinct neurophysiologic processes which underlie the sampled signal: one which may be related to attention and the other which may be more related to perception. Comparison with existing method(s) We show how these processes accord with and provide insight on the waveforms reported in the literature. Conclusions Finally we suggest that application of our method on averaged EEG/ERP data sampled from other paradigms may point at a similarly parsimonious set of underlying neurophysiologic processes which underlie the signal.