Stimulus complexity and the EEG: Differential effects of the number and the variety of display elements.

Contends that previous findings supporting D. Berlyne's suggestion, that stimulus complexity affects the EEG of an O (a) confounded different dimensions of stimulus complexity, and (b) failed to demonstrate that perceived complexity varied in accordance with the independent variable. Results of the present 5 experiments with a total of 33 undergraduates indicate that (a) both the number and variety of elements in a visual display affected judgments of complexity, (b) alpha activity decreased as number of elements increased, and (c) evidence for the effects of variety was inconclusive. It is concluded that the number and variety of elements are 2 dimensions of stimulus complexity which may have differential effects on EEG. (French summary) (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)