Maturation of the P3 and concurrent oscillatory processes during adolescence.
During adolescence event-related modulations of the neural response may increase. For slow event-related components, such as the P3, this developmental change may be masked due to increased amplitude levels of ongoing delta and theta oscillations in adolescents.



In a cross-sectional study design, EEG was measured in 51 participants between 13 and 24years. A visual oddball paradigm was used to elicit the P3. Our analysis focused on fronto-parietal activations within the P3 time-window and the concurrent time-frequency characteristics in the delta (∼0.5-4Hz) and theta (∼4-7Hz) band.



The parietal P3 amplitude was similar across the investigated age range, while the amplitude at frontal regions increased with age. The pre-stimulus amplitudes of delta and theta oscillations declined with age, while post-stimulus amplitude enhancement and inter-trial phase coherence increased. These changes affected fronto-parietal electrode sites.



The parietal P3 maximum seemed comparable for adolescents and young adults. Detailed analysis revealed that within the P3 time-window brain maturation during adolescence may lead to reduced spontaneous slow-wave oscillations, increased amplitude modulation and time precision of event-related oscillations, and altered P3 scalp topography.



Time-frequency analyses may help to distinguish selective neurodevelopmental changes within the P3 time window.
University of Bremen, Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, Bremen, Germany; Centre for Cognitive Science, Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: birgit.mathes@uni-bremen.de.
Birgit
B
Mathes
University of Bremen, Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, Bremen, Germany; Centre for Cognitive Science, Bremen, Germany.
Ksenia
K
Khalaidovski
University of Bremen, Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, Bremen, Germany; Centre for Cognitive Science, Bremen, Germany.
Annika S
AS
Wienke
University of Bremen, Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, Bremen, Germany; Centre for Cognitive Science, Bremen, Germany.
Christina
C
Schmiedt-Fehr
University of Bremen, Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, Bremen, Germany; Centre for Cognitive Science, Bremen, Germany.
Canan
C
Basar-Eroglu
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescence; Brain oscillations; ERP; ITC; Post-stimulus amplitude modulation; Target detection