Assessment of long-term habituation correlates in event-related potentials using a von Mises model

Abstract

In our preliminary work we were able to demonstrate habituation by analyzing attention correlates in single-trial sequences of auditory event-related potentials (ERPs). Despite different quantitative studies of instantaneous phase of ERPs in long-term habituation, there have been no former studies in generative process underlying the distribution of instantaneous phase information in the context of long-term habituation and its relation to attentional binding. For this means we used a von Mises model, representing the phase information over a set of single trial responses. Additionally we use a quantitative neurofunctional model to predict the dynamics of the instantaneous phase in single-trial ERP data during the long-term habituation. Measured habituation data is used to cross-validate the model's prediction. We conclude that the described method allows for an assessment of dynamic changes in the course of long-term habituation. The results also reinforce our neurofunctional multiscale model of long-term habituation and show the applicability of the described method for the experimental/clinical neurodiagnostic assessment of attentional binding.