N200

N200 is a designation used in several different fields, most commonly to denote an event-related potential (ERP) component in neuroscience and psychology. In this context, N200 refers to a negative-going voltage deflection that occurs roughly around 200 milliseconds after a stimulus, as recorded by electroencephalography (EEG). The precise timing and scalp distribution of the N200 can vary with task, modality, and individual differences.

In ERP research, the N200 is observed across a range of paradigms, including perceptual discrimination, attentional control, and mismatch or novelty detection. Its functional interpretation is not uniform; it can reflect processes such as early stimulus evaluation, conflict monitoring, or the detection of task-relevant features. The amplitude and latency of the N200 are influenced by factors such as attention, expectancy, stimulus salience, and practice, making it a useful index for studying cognitive processing under different conditions.

Beyond neuroscience, the term N200 is also used as a model number or part code in various industries, including electronics and automotive manufacturing. In those contexts, N200 does not denote a single standardized specification; its meaning depends on the manufacturer and product line. As a result, references to N200 should be interpreted within the relevant domain to determine the exact characteristics.

See also: N100, N200 in other ERP contexts, and related ERP components such as P200 and N2.