The P300, also known as P3, is an event-related potential (ERP) component observed in electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. It is characterized by a positive deflection in voltage occurring approximately 300 milliseconds after the presentation of a stimulus. The P300 is considered an index of cognitive processing, particularly related to attention and the allocation of mental resources. An auditory oddball task is a common experimental paradigm used to elicit the P300 response, and the one used in our research projects. In this task, patients are presented with a series of auditory stimuli that include frequent « standard » tones and infrequent « oddball » tones. The subject’s task is to detect and respond to these oddball tones. The infrequent and unexpected nature of the oddball tones captures the subject’s attention and engages cognitive processes, leading to the generation of a P300 response. This response is most prominent at parietal electrode sites, such as Pz, but can also be detected at central and frontal sites like Cz and Fz.
