Is neural adaptation of the N170 category-specific? Effects of adaptor stimulus duration and interstimulus interval

Abstract

Neural adaptation paradigms have been used in the electrophysiological and neuroimaging literature to characterise neural populations underlying face and object perception. It was recently reported by Nemrodov and Itier (2012) that adaptation of the N170 event-related potential (ERP) component is not stimulus category-specific over rapid adapting stimulus durations (S1 durations) and interstimulus intervals (ISIs). We therefore tested the category-specificity of adaptation over a range of S1 durations and ISIs. Faces and chairs were presented at S1 (for 200, 500 or 1000. ms) and S2 (for 200. ms), over a variable ISI (200 or 500. ms). Mean amplitudes of the P1, N170 and P2 visual ERP componen..