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The maturation of auditory cortical evoked responses between (preterm) birth and 14 years of age
J W Pasman1, J J Rotteveel, B Maassen
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Insights
The auditory cortical evoked response (ACR) waveform matures significantly from birth to 14 years, with key changes occurring in early infancy and childhood. Adult-like responses are typically achieved by adolescence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- The maturation of auditory processing in the central auditory system is crucial for speech and language development.
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of the auditory cortical evoked response (ACR) provides insights into neural maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the developmental changes in the auditory cortical evoked response (ACR) waveform from birth to 14 years of age.
- To identify specific transitional periods in ACR maturation.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking auditory cortical evoked response (ACR) waveform morphology.
- Data collected from preterm birth up to 14 years of age.
Main Results:
- Significant age-dependent alterations in ACR waveform morphology were observed up to 14 years.
- Two distinct transitional periods were identified: 36-41 weeks conceptual age and 4-6 years of age.
- The adult ACR waveform complex was typically achieved between 14 and 16 years of age.
Conclusions:
- The auditory cortical evoked response (ACR) undergoes substantial maturation throughout childhood and adolescence.
- Further research is warranted to correlate identified transitional periods with functional changes in the central auditory system.
Abstract:
In this study we report on the maturation of the auditory cortical evoked response (ACR) waveform between (preterm) birth and 14 years of age. From the results it can be concluded that the ACR waveform morphology shows substantial age-dependent changes until the age of 14 years. Two transitional periods could be recognized. The first between 36 and 41 weeks conceptional age; the second between 4 and 6 years of age. The adult waveform complex is achieved between 14 and 16 years of age. Further research is needed to determine whether these transitional periods in the maturation of ACRs correspond with important functional changes of the central auditory system.