The development of passive auditory novelty processing

In a passive auditory oddball study the development of novelty processing was examined in 5-7 (N=26), 8-9 (N=31),10-12 (N=30), and 18-29 (N=35) years olds. Even though the main goal of this study was to replicate the findings of an earlier one, a shorter and simplified paradigm was used in order to gather developmental reference data for non-responsive patient groups that are unable to give an overt response. As expected, this adapted procedure replicated the findings regarding the development of passive novel sound processing. Firstly, the present data indicated two novelty components, each with a different topography and a different development. Secondly, both novelty components were still not mature in 10-12 years olds. The early novelty P3 had a central focus and its amplitude became more positive with increasing age. Also, its latency did not differ between the four age groups. The focus of the late novelty P3 shifted from frontocentral in 5-7 years olds to parietal in adults. In addition, the late novelty P3 amplitude at Pz became more positive with age, while the late novelty P3 latency was longer in 5-7 and 8-9 years olds compared to 10-12 years olds and adults. Thus, it appears that the adapted paradigm is a suitable tool for assessing auditory novelty processing in non-responsive patients. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.