The Effect of Age on Conventional Parameters of Event-Related Potentials

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of age on conventional parameters of visual event-related potentials (ERPs). Forty two healthy subjects ranging in age from 20 to 73 were divided into three groups according to age; a young group (20-33 years), a middle-aged group (34-49 years) and older group (50-73 years). Event-related potentials (ERPs) of three groups were recorded in two different experimental conditions of which the infrequent stimulus was counted (Test 1) or uncounted (Test 2). ERPs were elicited using infrequent and frequent stimuli as red and green lights respectively. Significant amplitude and latency differences were found in comparisons between Test 1 and Test 2 for three groups. When the count stimulus condition was examined, significant latencies differences were observed between groups. The P3b latency increased significantly with age at a rate of 1.75 ms/year (r=0.65, p<0.0001).