The Use of Event-Related Potentials in the Study of Cognitive Development

Abstract

Event-related potentials (ERPs) can be recorded noninvasively at the scalp surface in a matter of minutes and do not require a motor or verbal response; thus, they represent an ideal method by which to study the neural correlates of cognitive function across the entire lifespan. In this chapter we begin by reviewing the physiological basis of ERPs, and then describe the various ERP components that have been used to chart the development of the neural correlates of different cognitive functions. We conclude by describing how ERPs can be used to study brain development across the first 1–2 decades of life.