The '''P3a''', or novelty P3,<ref name="Comerchero">{{cite journal | doi = 10.1016/S0168-5597(98)00033-1 | last1 = Comerchero | first1 = M. D. | last2 = Polich | first2 = J. | year = 1999 | title = P3a and P3b from typical auditory and visual stimuli | url = | journal = Clinical Neurophysiology | volume = 110 | issue = 1| pages = 24–30 | pmid = 10348317 }}</ref>, is a component of time-locked [[Electroencephalography|(EEG)]] signals known as event-related potentials [[event-related potential|(ERP)]]. The P3a is a positive-going scalp-recorded brain potential that has a maximum amplitude over frontal/central electrode sites with a peak latency falling in the range of 250-280 ms. The P3a has been associated with [[brain]] activity related to the engagement of [[attention]] (especially [[orienting response|orienting]] and involuntary shifts to changes in the environment) and the processing of novelty.<ref name="fMRI">Polich, J. (2003). Overview of P3a and P3b. In J. Polich (Ed.), Detection of Change:Event-Related Potential and fMRI Findings (pp. 83-98). Kluwer Academic Press: Boston.</ref>
