N100

What is N100 event-related potential?

The N100 is a negative waveform that peaks at approximately 100 milliseconds after stimulus presentation. Its amplitude is measured using electroencephalography (EEG) and may be dysfunctional in people with schizophrenia who show an inability to “gate” or inhibit irrelevant sensory information, ultimately leading to conscious information overload. To test this, paired auditory clicks are presented, separated by a short interval, usually of 0.5 seconds. The first click initiates or conditions the inhibition, while the second (test) click indexes the strength of the inhibition. An absence of a reduced response to the second stimulus is interpreted as a failure of inhibitory mechanisms, postulated to represent a defect in sensory gating.

What is the evidence for N100 event-related potential?

Moderate to high quality evidence finds a medium-sized reduction in N100 amplitude to the first stimulus, but not to the second stimulus. Review authors suggests this reflects a deficit in processing of auditory salience rather than in inhibition.

October 2020

Last updated at: 4:25 am, 29th October 2020
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NeuRA Libraries

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