ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Event-related potential

Event-related potential (ERP) is a fancy way of saying that your brain responds to specific things that happen in the world around you.

To understand how it works, imagine that your brain is a computer. When something happens around you (like a sound or someone saying your name), it's like hitting a button on the keyboard. Your brain's ERP is the response that gets sent back to the computer screen.

This response is measured by placing special sensors on your scalp that can detect tiny electrical signals produced by your brain cells. These signals are then recorded and analyzed to see how your brain is responding to different stimuli.

Scientists use ERP to study all sorts of things, from how babies learn language to how adults process emotions. It's like a secret window into the workings of the brain!