Age-changes in scalp distributions of cognitive event-related potentials elicited in an oddball task

Assessed age-related changes in the scalp distribution of visual event-related potentials (ERPs) in 24 females (aged 8-20 yrs, 14-25 yrs, and 18-29 yrs). EEG was recorded at 14 locations while Ss performed a visual version of an Oddball task (i.e., a buttonpress in response to an infrequent stimulus). Principal component analysis of the data yielded 3 distinct components (P350, P550, and N800) explaining 84% of the variance. The age-related trend for all components toward smaller amplitude differences of component scores between anterior and posterior brain areas may be the result of reduced independence (increased connectivity) between these brain areas.