Visual ERP P3 amplitude and latency in standalone and embedded visual processing task

Event-related potentials (ERPs) of a visual processing task are compared with and without a simultaneous external working memory load. Ten adults participated the same measurement session on three separate days. Results for visual ERP P3 amplitude and reaction time (RT) are presented for both task conditions. Both the reaction time of the visual task and the respective P3 latency increased during high memory load. It was also found that P3 amplitude and reaction time correlated only under the high memory load condition. The results indicate that visual P3 to a simple processing task is affected by external working memory load.