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P50 Sensory Gating in Infants
Published on: December 26, 2013
P50 suppression in children with selective mutism: a preliminary report
Yael Henkin1, Maya Feinholz, Miri Arie
1Department of Communication Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. henkin@post.tau.ac.il
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|August 20, 2009
Summary
Children with selective mutism (SM) show enhanced cortical auditory processing, specifically P50 suppression, unlike controls. This suggests a compensatory brain mechanism for auditory filtering difficulties in SM.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Selective mutism (SM) is linked to auditory processing differences.
- Previous research indicated brainstem auditory efferent aberrations in children with SM.
- These aberrations may contribute to vocalization difficulties and speech avoidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate auditory filtering at the cortical level in children with SM.
- To compare P50 event-related potential suppression between children with SM and controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the paired-click paradigm to assess P50 suppression.
- Measured P50 event-related potentials in response to sequential clicks.
- Included ten children with SM and ten neurotypical control children.
Main Results:
- Children with SM demonstrated significant P50 suppression to the second click.
- No P50 suppression was observed in the control group.
- 90% of SM participants showed suppression, compared to 40% of controls, indicating a significant group difference.
Conclusions:
- Children with SM exhibit mature, adult-like P50 suppression.
- This may represent a compensatory cortical inhibition mechanism for auditory information.
- Findings support the role of differential auditory processing in the speech selectivity of SM.
