The Mismatch Negativity: A Window to the Brain: Book Review

The Mismatch Negativity (MMN) is a brain electrophysiological response to changes in sensory stimuli that occurs within the timespan of sensory memory, even in the absence of attention and task performance. Although the MMN has been predominately studied in the auditory domain, it is also observed in other sensory modalities, including the visual, olfactory, and somatosensory systems. Since its discovery almost 50 years ago, MMN research has remained highly relevant. To synthesise the trends in MMN research into an accessible format and to provide newcomers with an up-to-date compendium of the field, Risto Näätänen, Teija Kujala, and Gregory Light recently published The Mismatch Negativity: A Window to the Brain (2019). This review summarises the book’s comprehensive coverage of MMN research, organising its content into thematic sections to guide early-career and senior researchers alike. Additionally, it encourages further dialogue within the MMN community, proposing a new edition to address the developments since the book’s publication, and inspiring a new wave of researchers to move the field forward. The review aims to serve as a resource for ERP researchers while fostering meaningful academic engagement.