ERP Repetition Effects and Mismatch Negativity Generation

Neuronal adaptation is a ubiquitous property of the cortex. This review presents evidence from MMN studies that show ERP components with similar adaptive properties. Specifically, I consider the empirical evidence from the perspective of a predictive coding model of perceptual learning and inference. Within this framework, ERP and neuronal repetition effects (repetition suppression) are seen as reductions in prediction error, a process that requires synaptic modifications. Repetition positivity is a human auditory ERP component, which shows similar properties to stimulus-specific adaptation of auditory cortex neurons; a candidate mechanism for auditory trace formation.