Time Frequency Analyses in Event-Related Potential Methodologies

Abstract Event-related potential (ERP) components are well characterized in terms of their temporal and spatial characteristics as well as the cognitive, affective, and motor processes they implicate. Revealing the oscillatory activity underlying the components can implicate such activity in various cognitive processes. Thus, time-frequency analyses of ERPs are valuable. Further, such analyses may help distinguish between “background” oscillatory activity and changes in frequency power associated with a particular cognitive, affective, or motor process. This chapter discusses additive benefits of time-frequency decompositions of ERPs, and includes practical demonstrations from feedback-related ERPs across different tasks. We are particularly interested in within-task associations (between ERPs and frequency bands) as well as the extent to which oscillatory activity in different frequencies can be helpful in clarifying associations with individual difference measures.