For Distinguished Early Career Contribution to Psychophysiology: Award Address, 1985

TLDR

The study proposes a P300 amplitude model that reduces explanatory constructs to three dimensions: subjective probability, stimulus meaning, and information transmission. The model specifies experimental variables and their interrelations within each dimension and demonstrates, via an additive factors method, how probability and stimulus meaning effects can be separated. Data show that probability and stimulus meaning contribute independently and additively to P300 amplitude, while their effects are multiplicatively modulated by transmitted information, supporting the model’s testability.

Abstract

ABSTRACT A model of P300 amplitude is proposed that reduces the many hypothetical constructs invoked to explain variations in P300 amplitude to three dimensions: 1) Subjective Probability, 2) Stimulus Meaning, and 3) Information Transmission. Evidence is presented to support the assertion that variables on the subjective probability and stimulus meaning dimensions have independent and additive contributions to overall P300 amplitude. The amplitude contributions of both of these dimensions, however, are modulated by a multiplicative relation with the proportion of transmitted stimulus information. Within each dimension, the fundamental experimental variables and their interrelations are specified. An example is presented to show how, by using an additive factors method, the respective amplitude effects of the probability and stimulus meaning dimensions can be separated. Supporting data are presented to show that the proposed model provides a reasonable and testable framework in which to conceptualize P300 results.