[Maturation of late visual potentials linked to cognitive processes in the normal child]

In 21 normal children in age ranging from 6 to 9 years, endogenous P300 components were recorded on vertex and occipital areas. The ERPs were provoked by error detections in various tasks of visual discrimination involving cognitive abilities of the subjects. The data reveal an obvious influence of the age according to the number of the detected P300 and the correlations between presence and/or absence of the vertex and occipital responses. The limit of 7 years of age seemed important for the maturation of the P300 system.