Event-related brain potential correlates of identity negative priming from overlapping pictures.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were obtained from an identity priming task, where a green target had to be selected against a superimposed red distractor. Several priming conditions were realized in a mix of control (CO), negative priming (NP), and positive priming (PP) trials. PP and NP effects in reaction times (RTs) were significant. ERP results conceptually replicate earlier findings of left-posterior P300 reduction in PP and NP trials compared to CO. This ERP effect may reflect the detection of prime-probe similarity corresponding to the concept of a retrieval cue. A novel finding concerned amplitude increase of the frontal late positive complex (LPC) in the order NP, CO, and PP. NP therefore seemed to induce brain activity related to cognitive control and/or memory processes, with reduced LPC amplitude indicating effortful processing. Overall, retrieval-based explanations of identity NP are supported.