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Development of preparatory activity indexed by the contingent negative variation in children

Angélica B Flores1, Marcia R Digiacomo, Susana Meneres

  • 1Human Psychobiology Lab, Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Camilo José Cela s/n, Seville, Spain. angelicafloresb@gmail.com

Brain and Cognition
|June 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Investigating age-related differences in cognitive processes is crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.
  • The Posner paradigm is a well-established tool for examining attention and preparation.
  • Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) provides insights into anticipatory brain activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare age-related effects on task-specific preparatory activation using a spatial cue.
  • To analyze behavioral responses and contingent negative variation (CNV) between children and young adults.
  • To explore developmental differences in motor and sensory preparation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the central cue Posner's paradigm with electroencephalography (EEG).
  • Recorded EEG from 20 scalp sites (International 10-20 system).
  • Analyzed early and late CNV components during a waiting period between warning and imperative stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Young adults exhibited contralateral cortical activation for motor preparation, unlike children.
  • Both age groups showed contralateral sensory area activation.
  • Children displayed a unique positive parietal component during the CNV period.

Conclusions:

  • Suggests that the motor preparation system is less mature in children compared to young adults.
  • Indicates that children may employ different strategies and brain regions for preparation.
  • Highlights developmental disparities between sensory and motor preparatory systems.
Abstract

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