The image below (from the Oxford Handbook of ERP Components) shows the stimulus-locked ERP at occipital electrode sites elicited when subjects view a faces with a neutral expression (Neutral) and faces expressing fear (Afraid). The P1 is larger for the Afraid faces. We can be pretty certain that this effect reflects a difference in sensory processing rather than a difference in higher-level processing. Why?
Choose only ONE best answer.
A The effect is observed over the occipital lobe, which is visual cortex.
B The effect occurs shortly approximately 100 ms after stimulus onset, shortly after the onset of the ERP.
C The effect represents a difference in processing between two physically different stimuli.
D This can't actually be a difference in sensory processing because sensory systems can't detect emotion.
A stimulus-locked ERP waveform reflects the sequence of processes that occur over time following the onset of the stimulus, beginning with sensory processing and then continuing to higher-level processes. Consequently, an effect this early must almost certainly be a sensory effect. More time would be required for higher-level to begin. The fact that it occurs at occipital electrode sites does NOT mean that it's a sensory effect, because a given electrode can pick up activity from many different brain areas.