[ERP correlates of recognition memory for Chinese words].
OBJECTIVE
To study the ERP old/new effects during a recognition task for Chinese words.


METHODS
Twenty one healthy right-handed volunteers received a Chinese words recognition task. The stimuli were meaningful words consisting of two Chinese characters. The EEG signals were recorded from 9 scalp sites of the extended 10-20 systems.


RESULTS
Compared with the new words, the old words elicited larger N320 (the frontal old/new effect) at the frontal brain areas and larger LPC (the parietal old/new effect) at the parietal brain areas. And the peak of LPC appeared significantly earlier in old words ERPs than in new words ERPs.


CONCLUSIONS
The old/new effect is significant for the recognition of Chinese words, which also consists of the frontal old/new effect and the parietal old/new effect. The parietal old/new effect is positive-going, but the frontal old/new effect is negative-going. The frontal old/new effect might be affected by the language and material.
Medical Psychological Department of The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha Hunan, China. wang0916xia@yahoo.com.cn
Xiang
X
Wang
Zao-huo
ZH
Cheng
Shu-qiao
SQ
Yao
Lun
L
Zhao
D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology