ERP

"Experience thinking live"

Event-Related Potentials (ERP)

ERP (Event-Related Potentials) are one of the most fascinating features of the EEG. The EEG is a rich source of information about what is happening in our brains. This is despite the fact that imaging techniques have become better and better in recent years and have achieved a very high resolution.

What are ERPs?

Event-related potentials are recordings of the electrical activity of the brain that are triggered by an event. Each event causes a minimal change in voltage within a certain time window. A rough distinction is made between time windows for sensory and cognitive processing. The early potentials start at around 20 milliseconds, while late potentials can last up to 2 seconds or longer. The early potentials are important for neurological diagnostics, while the range from 200 milliseconds onwards is relevant for the assessment of cognitive functions.

Schematic representation of the course of event-related potentials during the reception and processing of a visual or auditory stimulus

What are ERP measurements?

ERPs are measurements that rely on one or more stimuli to detect changes in the brain. These stimuli can be different, such as sounds, images or tactile stimuli. Images such as letters, numbers or faces are often presented in quick succession. Every stimulus that triggers a perception is processed in the brain and is reflected in the EEG. However, these changes are usually so small that they are not visible to the naked eye. The proportions are comparable to an apple compared to Cologne Cathedral.

Brainmaps of brain injuries before and after NF 20 sessions Z-score training IFEN Pro-Z

Why ERPs?

The use of ERPs is diverse. In addition to the well-known P300, there are numerous variants that are suitable for different clinical examinations. Most tests require attention, short-term memory, discrimination or a combination of these, while attention is undesirable in tests such as the ‘Mismatch Negativity’. ERPs serve as neuromarkers for ADHD, dementia, ageing, anxiety, cognitive performance, depression, autism and specific cognitive and emotional processing characteristics.

The IFEN EKP Project

the history of ERP

The history of event-related potentials (ERPs) began in the 1960s when researchers first investigated electrical brain activity associated with specific sensory, motor or cognitive events. Technological advances in electroencephalography (EEG) made it possible to identify ERP components such as P300 and N400, which provided important insights into perception, attention and memory. Since then, ERPs have been used extensively in neuroscience, psychology and clinical diagnostics to analyse neuronal processes in real time.

The IFEN ERP Project

the Mission

The mission of ERPs is to provide insights into neuronal processing that go far beyond the capabilities of imaging techniques through their unique temporal resolution of just a few milliseconds. Thanks to modern technologies and the tools developed by IFEN, it is now easier and more cost-effective to utilise this valuable data for research and practice to better understand the efficiency and functioning of the brain.

the Vision

The vision ERPs is to make its unique capabilities for analysing neuronal processes accessible to a broad audience in research and practice through advanced and user-friendly tools. The aim is to revolutionise the application of this method in order to make findings about brain function more efficient, cost-effective and usable with minimal effort.

the Inspiration

The inspiration behind ERPs lies in their ability to provide precise insights into the dynamics of the brain that no other method can deliver at this temporal resolution. The combination of easy accessibility, low-cost equipment and state-of-the-art tools opens up new possibilities to better understand and practically apply neural processes.

the project developers and research partners

Thomas F. Feiner, BCIA BCN, QEEG-DQEEG-D, BCIA BN, OT, Director of the Institute for EEG Neurofeedback, founder of IFEN Neuroscience

Thomas Feiner is the director of the Institute for EEG Neurofeedback (IFEN), which he founded in 2008. He trains professional neurofeedback practitioners worldwide and gives lectures at international conferences.

He is a member of Dr Joe Dispenza's scientific team, which examines QEEG data from meditators. He is also passionate about researching human consciousness. This is why he developed a tool called CAPITO (Cognitive and Psychophysiological Test Operations), which can be used to measure information processing in the brain.

Dr. Christoph GarnerNeurologist, senior scientist at IFEN Neuroscience, former head physician at KWA Klinik Stift Rottal

Dr Garner worked as a neurologist at the University Hospital Großhadern before becoming head physician at the KWA Klinik Stift Rottal, a position he successfully held for over 15 years. 5 Jahre erfolgreich innehatte.

Dr Garner is committed to combining conventional and alternative medicine, which is based on his enthusiasm for Indian healing traditions such as yoga and Ayurveda. From the 1990s onwards, Garner therefore initiated cooperation projects at the KWA Klinik Stift Rottal, such as the Vivekananda University (Bangalore) and the Ayushakti Centre (Mumbay). He also introduced a programme at the KWA Clinic that is specifically dedicated to children with spastic paralysis, stroke patients and patients with traumatic brain injuries. Dr Garner and the KWA Clinic have been in close contact with the Institute for EEG Neurofeedback for many years. Garner is a recognised EEG expert and is strongly committed to the use of the latest methods of applied neuroscience.

Dr Rubén Pérez Elvira, BCIA BCNProfessor of Clinical Neuropsychology, Director of the Nepsa Neurological Rehabilitation Centre

Rubén Pérez-Elvira, BCIA BCN, is a COP-accredited clinical neuropsychologist, expert in QEEG analysis and clinical director of NEPSA Neurological Rehabilitation.

He is involved in both clinical and research activities. In the latter area, he is developing studies on the application of live zscore training for neurofeedback and methods for selecting feedback for neurofeedback.

Ricardo Jose Leon Neuropsychologist
Director of Nepsa in Latin America

Clinical neuropsychologist and neuroscientist
IFEN representative for research and training
Certified neurofeedback therapist of the Institute for EEG Neurofeedback

Representative of IFEN in Latin America

The IFEN Tools CAPITO and ERP-Analyzer

With the ERP Analyser and the CAPITO analysis software from the IFEN Neuroscience research kitchen, ERP measurements and evaluations are simple, user-friendly and precise.

The IFEN ERP system stands for

simple ERP recording
user-friendly and efficient to use
versatile applications
precise measurement of brain activity
portable handling
low investment costs

How users rate the IFEN ERP tools

IFEN's ERP hardware and software is an easy-to-use, portable and practical system suitable for clinical and research purposes. It is a suitable system for use in your laboratory. However, it is also a great device for use on the road when your research site is outside your laboratory. In conjunction with IFEN's CAPITO software, you can create behavioural tasks that allow you to capture various ERP components.

My recent experience with IFEN's ERP system.

Ease of use: The user interface is clear and practical, allowing easy navigation and efficient execution of tasks.

Functionality: IFEN's ERP system offers a number of essential functions. For example, one aspect that I found particularly beneficial was the ability to visualise data in real time: The system was well suited to my research needs. I approached the use of the ERP system with certain expectations and I am pleased to say that these were not only met, but in some respects exceeded. Overall assessment: I believe that IFEN's ERP system can be a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners. It is obvious that a considerable amount of thought and expertise has gone into its development and I thank you for providing such a system to support our work. The synthesis of ease of use and accuracy of the IFEN ERP system is remarkable. It fits seamlessly into my workflow and provides an unrivalled platform for the effortless development of new paradigms. I would also like to thank the IFEN team for their great support during the project.

I am excited to share my recent experience with IFEN's ERP system in my latest research endeavours focused on heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) calculation. As a dedicated researcher, I am constantly looking for tools that can increase the precision and effectiveness of my work. I must express my utmost satisfaction with your system. The platform's remarkably intuitive design ensures a seamless and immersive user experience that allows me to immerse myself in my research without getting bogged down in technical complexities. The variety of features integrated into IFEN's ERP system is undeniably commendable. I found one particular feature especially valuable, such as the ability to fine-tune time windows for HEP analysis, which played a crucial role in improving the results of my project. Although I approached the ERP system with high expectations due to its reputation in our research community, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it not only met my expectations, but exceeded them several times over. This exceptional level of reliability and performance is exactly the kind of support that professionals in our field need. In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the tireless dedication and diligent work that IFEN has put into developing such a robust tool. I look forward to incorporating it into my future projects and am excited to see the other innovative solutions your esteemed institute has to offer. Utilising IFEN's ERP system has greatly enhanced my research process as it seamlessly blends an intuitive design with cutting-edge functionality, exceeding my initial expectations. The platform's remarkably intuitive design provided a seamless and immersive user experience that allowed me to immerse myself in my research without getting bogged down in technical complexities. The multitude of features integrated into IFEN's ERP system is undeniably commendable.

The IFEN ERP system is characterised by its user-friendly interface, which ensures both optimal ease of use and remarkable accuracy. The flexibility of the platform greatly simplifies the paradigm creation process. In our laboratory, we have been using it for several months as part of a research project focussing on the detection of markers for the progression of mild cognitive impairment towards Alzheimer's disease. It has made our work much easier. Our students have quickly understood how it works and are able to design cognitive tasks for ERPs within a short time. It is highly recommended.