THE LATERALIZED READINESS POTENTIAL AS PS YCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE INVESTIGATION OF COGNITIVE-PROCESSES

Mental chronometry reveals the structure and time-course of cognitive processes. Several fundamental theoretical controversies originated in the last two decades within this domain. These controversies are diff icult to settle on the basis of traditional behavioral measures such a s reaction time and response accuracy. Hence, there is an emerging bod y of work in which combined measures of behavioral and psycho-physiolo gical variables are used to these controversies. The so-called readine ss potential (LRP) has proved to be an especially useful supplementary measure. This brain potential provides a continuous on-line index of response preparation. After a brief introduction into the Cognitive Ps ychophysiology of the LRP it is demonstrated how the LRP has been util ized to answer the theoretical questions whether information transmiss ion within the cognitive systems is discrete or continuous and whether stimulus location primes a spatially corresponding response. Finally, a number of problems and the prospects of LRP research in the analysi s of cognitive processes are discussed.