Maturational Effects on the Middle Components of the Averaged Electroencephalic Response

Middle component AERs to brief click stimuli were recorded from 60 subjects in four age groups to assess age effects on waveform, latency, and amplitude. Replicable responses similar in waveform to those recorded in adults were observed in 3 – 4-year-old children, full-term newborns, and premature infants tested as early as the 31st posteonceptional week. Latencies and amplitudes were compared across ages and significant age effects were evident for amplitude but not latency. Amplitudes of components Po, Pa and Pb were found to increase until 3 – 4 years of age and decline in adulthood. Response amplitudes for premature infants differed significantly from those of adults, but newborns' responses did not differ from either group. Only the responses of 3 – 4-year-old children were clearly differentiated from those of all other groups in this respect. Significant age effects on latency were found only for Po, which is postulated to be synonymous with Wave V of the brainstem response. The absence of a trend f...