Mapping der EEG-Reaktivität auf verbale und nichtverbale Information bei 11jährigen Kindern

Summary EEG mapping was performed in a group of 11-year-old children to investigate EEG changes (EEG reactivity) to auditory verbal (short nonsense sentences) and non-verbal (tones) stimuli. Using the two EEG variables power and centroid (mean frequency), EEG reactivity was assessed at 19 scalp locations in the frequency bands δ, ϑ, α and β. The aim of the study was to elucidate the differential involvement of the two EEG variables, the different frequency bands and scalp locations, as well as the two hemispheres in the reactivity to the two types of information. Both stimulus types induced the strongest reactivity in the frequency bands ϑ and α, the power changes (decreases) being more marked than the centroid changes (decreases in the ϑ and increases in the α-band). EEG reactivity to tones was more intense and generalised than EEG reactivity to sentences, which showed a clearer occipitofrontal gradient of α and ϑ-power decreases. Only power decreases to verbal stimuli revealed significant differences between hemispheres: frontotemporal/temporal a left hemisphere, paracentral a right hemisphere dominance was observed. These results emphasise the importance of considering multiple scalp locations, frequency bands and EEG variables in studies of the characteristics of EEG reactivity and its functional significance during ontogenesis.