Use of event-related potentials in the study of typical and atypical development

A variety of neuroimaging tools are now available for use in studying neurodevelopment. In this article, we focus our attention on one such tool--the event-related potential (ERP). We begin by providing an overview of what ERPs are, their physiological basis, how they are recorded, and some constraints on their use. We then provide an abbreviated glossary of ERP components, that is, what processes are reflected in ERPs. We conclude by summarizing two areas of atypical development that have benefited from this method: children experiencing early psychosocial neglect, and children diagnosed with autism. We conclude by offering recommendations for future research.