Selective alignment of brain responses by task demands during semantic processing

► How do behavioral goals affect the way words are processed in a sentence context? ► This study shows that N400 onset and peak alignment is dissociable based on task demands. ► In a silent reading task, N400 onsets are better aligned than peaks over electrodes. ► In a probe selection task, however, N400 peaks are better aligned than onsets. ► N400 amplitudes correlate best with latency characteristic showing better alignment.