An early parietal ERP component of the frontoparietal system: EDAN ≠ N2pc

Abstract

Directing spatial attention or manual response selection by means of arrow cues elicits a characteristic sequence of lateralized ERP components. Van Velzen and Eimer (2003) proposed that one of these components, the EDAN (early directing-attention negativity) is not related to the control of spatial attention but is instead an N2pc in disguise, related to the visual processing of arrow cues. While this proposal seems widely accepted, it has never been evaluated whether the hitherto not well-determined scalp distribution of the EDAN matches the well-established scalp distribution of the N2pc. This paper reviews evidence from earlier published work supporting a parietal distribution of the EDAN. This strongly argues against the proposed identification with the N2pc. The EDAN may instead reflect early parietal activity within the frontoparietal network, preceding the frontal activation represented in the anterior directing-attention negativity (ADAN).