Electrophysiological correlates of categorization: P300 amplitude as index of target similarity

Two experiments examined event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioral correlates of categorizing stimuli varying in perceptual similarity to targets. Participants performed a target-detection task in which non-target stimuli varied in target similarity but occurred with equivalent probability. The stimuli were variations of a schematic human face comprised of eight distinct features: two eyes, two eyebrows, one nose, one mouth, and two ears. Non-target stimuli that were perceptually similar to targets produced larger P300-like neurophysiological responses than did other non-target stimuli. These effects emerged whether participants’ target was relatively complex (eight features) or quite simple (zero features). Accordingly, the presence of many constituent elements of a test stimulus does not appear necessary to trigger increases in categorical processing of non-targets that are similar to a target. The data further suggest that the P300 amplitude may be used as a good index of perceptual similarity between target and non-target stimuli.