A Proposed Feedback Method For Studying the Inhibition of EEG Responses to Visual Stimuli.

A new method for studying inhibition of an electroencephalographic component of the OR to visual stimuli is described. The EEG response is suppression of the occipital alpha following visual stimulation. By a controlled feedback contingency, two stimuli are made to occur in sequence with a controlled time delay after the onset of alpha in the EEG. Inhibition is defined as a lack of EEG response to the first stimulus followed by a response to the second, delayed stimulus. Because the stimuli are feedback with regard to the occurrence of alpha, the dynamics of the alpha - alpha suppression system are different when a response is made to the first stimulus (elicitation of OR to first stimulus) compared to not responding to the first stimulus but responding to the second delayed stimulus (inhibition of OR to the first stimulus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]