Auditory event-related potentials in well-characterized groups of children.

Sixty-eight subjects ranging in age from 6 to 23 years were studied in an 'auditory oddball' event-related potential (ERP) paradigm. Our results replicate other studies, finding P3 as the most consistent component of ERPs since childhood, although great variability of this component was found in the 6-year-old group. Separate age/ERP component latency and amplitude linear regressions were computed for subjects 6-14 and 6-23 years old. Our data show in both groups a significant negative and positive correlation between age and P3 latency and N1-P2 amplitude respectively. The age/P3 latency slope for the subjects under 15 years old was -19.00 msec/year versus 8.15 msec/year for all subjects (6-23 years old). Our results indicate that P3 latency during childhood decreases with age, reaching an asymptote after or during the second decade of life. No curvilinear relationship between age and P3 latency was found over the child groups, although a significant curvilinear relationship was found over the entire age range. This study showed no significant gender differences in latency at any age group. However, in the adult group females showed significantly larger amplitudes than males.