The effects of age on human P3 latency

103 subjects aged 6 to 78 years were studied in an "auditory oddball" event-related potential (ERP) paradigm. Linear regressions were computed for P3 latencies for the age groups 6-14, 12-24 and 18-78 years. In the first two groups a significant negative correlation between age and P3 latency was present. The age/P3 latency slope for the subjects under 15 was--19.00 msec/year versus -2.4 msec/year for the 12-24 year-olds. In contrast, there was a significant positive correlation in the 18-78 years group with an age/P3 latency slope of +1.25 msec/year. A significant age/P3 latency curvilinear relationship was found from 6 to 78 years old.