What does Event-related potential (ERP) measure in cognitive processes?

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are a valuable tool in cognitive psychology that measure the electrical activity of the brain in response to specific sensory, cognitive, or motor events. The correct answer highlights that ERPs specifically provide insights into neural activity associated with cognitive functions. This is done through the application of electroencephalography (EEG), which records brain wave patterns as they occur in real-time when a stimulus is presented or when a particular cognitive task is performed.

ERPs are particularly useful in understanding how the brain processes different types of information, including attention, perception, and memory. By analyzing the timing and characteristics of these brain responses, researchers can infer how cognitive processes unfold and the stages at which different types of information are processed by the brain.

The other options provided do not align with the specific function of ERPs. While heart activity is measured using different physiological tools, visual stimuli responses and sound discrimination may be studied using ERPs, they do not capture the broader scope of cognitive functions that ERPs fundamentally represent. Thus, focusing on the neural mechanisms linked to cognitive processes is what makes choice B the correct answer.