Being Conscious of the Absent Stimuli: 1 - Expectation
12 Pages Posted: 30 Jun 2017
Date Written: June 26, 2017
Abstract
Studies on EEG correlates of consciousness have revealed relations between the degree of consciousness and many Event Related Activity (ERA), In these studies, un or conscious state is manipulated either by controlling stimulus threshold; priming, masking or omission. Here, we decide to study the EEG correlates of consciousness using a different paradigm. We used a series of clicks presented at 1Hz during 30 seconds (phase R) in order to create an expectation about the stimulus occurrence and then we discontinued the stimulation for another 30 seconds (phase E). ERA technique was used to disclose the possible EEG components associated to conscious perception of real (phase R) and absent (phase E) clicks. Five ERA wave components Wi were identified. W1 to W4 for real clicks and W2 to W5 for absent (imagined) stimuli. It is proposed where that W1 and W5 components distinguish conscious perception of real and absent stimuli.
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