[Age-related changes of auditory event-related potential (P300) in children].

Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 53 neurologically normal children of 5 to 15 years of age, and 8 healthy adults. To clarify the developmental changes and to obtain a normative value in childhood, the latency and amplitude of ERPs (N100, P200, N200, and P300) were examined. ERPs were elicited with the auditory oddball paradigm. P300 components were detected in all subjects. A strong positive correlation was demonstrated between latencies of two trials, and a small latency difference between trials was interpreted as being clinically unimportant. A significant negative correlation was observed between P300 latency and age during childhood (latency (msec) = -9.81 X (Age) + 459: r = 0.75, p less than 0.01). A mild negative correlation was also observed between N100, P200 and N200 latency and age. P300-topography of amplitude showed various patterns in young childhood, but in adolescence a maximum point was Pz in almost all subjects. These findings suggest that auditory ERPs can be easily measured in childhood and are useful for objective evaluation of the cognitive function.