Hemispheric distribution of ERP components and word naming in preschool children.

Recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) at the left and right temporal and parietal sites of 61 children (aged 5.1-6.2 yrs) during a word-naming task. Ss were divided into fast and slow reading acquisition (RA) groups based on the number of trials they required to learn to read 4 words. Principal component analysis was performed on the average ERP waveforms. Analyses of the factor scores revealed that the P240, N380, and slow wave (SW) components were asymmetrically distributed over the hemispheres. Fast RA was associated with smaller N380 and larger SW activity than slow RA. Multiple regression analyses indicated that only right hemispheric ERP components were significantly associated with rate of RA. Findings are discussed in terms of right hemispheric involvement in early RA.