Event-Related Brain Potentials in the Study of Consciousness

摘要

In this chapter, we review studies of event-related brain potentials(ERPs) that address, either explicitly or implicitly the phenomena of consciousness. An analysis of the methodology and findings of these studies leads to an examination of their conceptual foundations. It is our contention that these studies can benefit from recognizing the fundamental difference between the data on consciousness and the data on brain potentials. The data on consciousness take the form of introspective reports. That is, subjects report, either in words or by the manipulation of mechanical devices, about their consciousness. They may press a button labeled red, or state 'the red light was on', or report the number of times the red light was illuminated over a period of time. The datum provided by the subject is the product of multiple brain processes, conscious and nonconscious. Electrical brain activities recorded on the scalp are, on the other hand, data on one or more of the processes that may be involved in conscious experience. We shall endeavor to show how this distinction between processes and their products, if used to guide research in cognitive psychophysiology, might lead to a firmer foundation for the development of a psychobiology of consciousness.