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Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
06:34

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

Maturation of the auditory event-related potentials during the first year of life

Elena Kushnerenko1, Rita Ceponiene, Polina Balan

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Neuroreport
|April 2, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in infants show key peaks present at birth. Maturation involves changes in amplitude and latency, suggesting functional generators are present from the start.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Auditory Neuroscience

Background:

  • Cortical auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) are crucial for understanding auditory development.
  • Previous research suggests significant changes in ERPs during early infancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the maturation of auditory ERPs from birth to 12 months of age.
  • To identify the developmental trajectory of specific ERP components (P150, N250, P350, N450).

Main Methods:

  • Studied 15 infants longitudinally from birth to 12 months.
  • Recorded and analyzed cortical auditory event-related potentials (ERPs).
  • Measured ERP peak amplitudes and latencies.

Main Results:

  • All major ERP peaks (P150, N250, P350, N450) were identifiable at birth.
  • ERP amplitudes increased, and latencies shortened with age.
  • The rate of amplitude growth varied among different ERP peaks.

Conclusions:

  • The neural generators for infantile auditory ERPs are functional at birth.
  • Maturation of ERP morphology is primarily due to changes in the relative strengths of these generators.
  • Early auditory processing capabilities are present from the earliest stages of life.

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