Hemispheric distribution of ERP components and word naming in preschool children

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded at the left and right temporal and parietal sites during a word-naming task in 61 children ranging in age from 5.1 to 6.2 years. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the average ERP waveforms. Analyses of the factor scores revealed that the P240, N380, and SW components were asymmetrically distributed over the hemispheres. Fast reading acquisition was associated with smaller N380 and larger SW activity than slow reading acquisition. Multiple regression analyses indicated that only right hemispheric ERP components were significantly associated with rate of reading acquisition. These findings are discussed in terms of right hemispheric involvement in early reading acquisition.