Event-Related Potentials in Complex and Simple Words-Pseudowords Aloud Reading Task.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Pseudowords (PW) are crucial for assessing speech and learning disorders across age groups.
• Understanding brain responses to pseudowords aids in diagnosing clinical conditions.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a non-invasive method to study cognitive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate brain activity using EEG during a words/pseudowords aloud reading (WPWAR) task.
• To analyze the N400 event-related potential (ERP) component and power spectrum density (PSD) in response to words and pseudowords.
• To explore the potential of pseudoword length as a clinical assessment marker.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a dry-EEG system to record brain signals from 44 healthy volunteers.
• Participants engaged in a 15x15 words/pseudowords aloud reading (WPWAR) task.
• Analyzed N400 ERP component and PSD within the 200-600 ms time window for varying syllable lengths.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings indicate specific cortical involvement in processing words and pseudowords based on syllable length.
• The N400 component analysis suggests semantic processing in the left prefrontal and right temporal cortices.
• Incongruous and divergent processes involve the right prefrontal and left temporal cortices.

Conclusions:

• Pseudoword length modulation shows potential as a marker for clinical assessment.
• This research could bridge investigations of age-related cognitive decline via executive dysfunction evaluation.
• EEG analysis of pseudoword reading offers insights into semantic and cognitive processes.