[Progress of study in auditory event-related potentials of novel events].

This is a review of the progress in the study on auditory event-related potentials (ERP) of novel events. Several cognitive problems about the novelty ERP response on brain and the experiment methods are introduced. The mismatch negative potential (MMN) reflects the detection of deviant events, and MMN is related with the novelty P3. Familiarity and attention influence the novelty ERP response. Experiments results showed that the amplitude of ERPs in the frontal area was reduced with the enhancement of familiarity, while that in the parietal area had little change. Attention was helpful in increasing the amplitude of ERPs, and could make the corresponding brain area active. The functional significance of the response of ERP was discussed also.