title: A comparison of semantic and syntactic event related potentials generated by children and adults.
abstract: The present study employs event related potentials (ERPs) to verify the utility of using electrophysiological measures to study developmental questions within the field of language comprehension. Established ERP components (N400 and P600) that reflect semantic and syntactic processing were examined. Fifteen adults and 14 children (ages 8-13) processed spoken stimuli containing either semantic or syntactic anomalies. Adult participants showed a significant N400 in response to semantic anomalies and P600 components in response to syntactic anomalies. Children also show evidence of both ERP components. The children's N400 component differed from the adults' in scalp location, latency, and component amplitude. The children's P600 was remarkably similar to the P600 shown by adults in scalp location, component amplitude, and component latency. Theoretical implication for theories of language comprehension in adults and children will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. ratchley@ku.edu
authors.forename: Ruth Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Atchley
authors.forename: Mabel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Stacy K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Betz
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kwasny
authors.forename: Joan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sereno
authors.forename: Allard
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jongman
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D012660:Semantics