Word and picture processing in children: an event-related potential study.

Full Abstract

In an investigation of the N400 component, event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by 4 types of word stimuli (real words, pseudowords, random letter strings, and false fonts) and 3 types of picture stimuli (real pictures, pseudopictures, and picture parts) presented in separate lists were recorded from 10- and 11-year-old children. All types of word stimuli elicited an anteriorly distributed negativity peaking at about 400 msec (antN400). Words and pseudowords elicited similar ERPs, whereas ERPs to letter strings differed from those to both pseudowords and false fonts. All types of picture stimuli elicited dual anterior negativities (N350 and N430). Real pictures and pseudopictures elicited similar ERPs, whereas pseudopictures and picture parts elicited asymmetrical processing. The results are discussed in terms of increased sensitivity to and dependence on context in children.

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Author information

Author/s: Coch, Donna (D); Maron, Leeza (L); Wolf, Maryanne (M); Holcomb, Phillip J (PJ);

Affiliation: Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA.

Grants: HD08598 (Agency:United States NICHD) ; HD25889 (Agency:United States NICHD)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Developmental neuropsychology (Dev Neuropsychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-; vol 22 (issue 1) : pp 373-406

Dates: Created 2002/10/30; Completed 2003/03/03; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12405510, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child
Discrimination Learning - physiology
Evoked Potentials, Visual
Female
Humans
Male

Male
Mental Processes - physiology
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
Reading
Visual Perception - physiology
Word Association Tests

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