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Article
Maturation in auditory event-related potentials explains variation in language ability in children.
European Journal of Neuroscience
  • Elaine Yuen Ling Kwok, Health and Rehabilitation Science, Western University
  • Marc F Joanisse
  • Lisa Archibald, Western University
  • Margot E Stothers
  • Heather M Brown
  • Janis Oram Cardy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13785
Abstract

Processing of auditory information in the cortex continues to develop into later childhood and adolescence. Recent research has indicated that intraclass correlation (ICC) is the best method for capturing maturation in auditory event-related potentials (AEPs) of school-age children. However, the sensitivity of the ICC approach in discerning AEP changes in children has not been consistently demonstrated and positive results have not been replicated. We attempted this replication and further explored whether AEP maturation estimated using the ICC approach predicts cognitive and linguistic abilities in addition to chronological age. We measured AEPs in response to simple tones in groups of 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-year olds with typical development (N = 67) and used ICC to estimate the age equivalent of each child's AEP (AEP-age). Results indicated that ICC differentiated 7- to 8-year-old children from 9- to 10-year-old children and that AEP-age predicted both chronological age and significant, unique variance in language ability, but not in nonverbal IQ. Our findings support the view that auditory organization in children reflects both general developmental maturation and more specific development of language skills, and support the future use of AEP-age to identify and understand individual differences in brain maturation in typically developing and clinical populations.

Notes

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Maturation in auditory event-related potentials explains variation in language ability in children, in European Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 47(1), which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13785. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.

Citation Information
Kwok, E. Y., Joanisse, M. F., Archibald, L. M., Stothers, M. E., Brown, H. M., & Oram Cardy, J. (2018). Maturation in auditory event‐related potentials explains variation in language ability in children. European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(1), 69-76.