ERPs, semantic processing and age

Author(s): Katayama, J., Koyama, T.

Journal/Book: Int J Psychophysiol. 1998; 29: PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. Elsevier Science BV. 43-51.

Abstract: ERPs (N400, LPC and CNV) were elicited in two sets of subjects grouped according to age (young vs. Elderly) using a word-pair category matching paradigm. Each prime consisted of a Japanese noun (constructed from two to four characters of the Hiragana) followed by one Chinese character (Kanji) as the target, this latter representing one of five semantic categories. There were two equally probable target conditions: match or mismatch. Each target was preceded by a prime, either belonging to, or not belonging to, the same semantic category. The subjects were required to respond with a specified button press to the given target according to the condition. We found RTs to be longer in the elderly subjects and under the mismatch condition. N400 amplitude was reduced in the elderly Subjects under the mismatch condition and there was no difference between match and mismatch response, which were similar in amplitude to that under match condition for the young subjects. In addition, the CNV amplitudes were larger in the elderly subjects. These results suggested that functional changes in semantic processing through aging (larger semantic networks and diffuse semantic activation) were the cause of this N400 reduction, attributing a subsidiary role to attentional disturbance. We also discuss the importance of taking age-related changes into consideration in clinical studies.

Note: Article Miyamoto T, Hokkaido Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat & Neurol, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060, JAPAN

Keyword(s): ERP; N400; CNV; LPC; aging; semantic processing; EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS; MEDIAL TEMPORAL-LOBE; MINI-MENTAL STATE; BRAIN POTENTIALS; ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION; ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE; AUDITORY-STIMULI; FIELD POTENTIALS; LANGUAGE; N400

Zurück | Weiter