Auditory P300 event-related potentials: Age versus P300 latency functions

The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on age/P300 latency and to examine the age/P300 latency regression functions to determine if a linear or curvilinear function best described those normative data. Data were collected from 50 normal hearing subjects, ages 30-84 years old, utilizing auditory (1) "oddball paradigm" with 1000 and 2000 Hertz tonebursts and (2) nonsense syllable stimuli of /daek/ and /gId/.;Results for toneburst stimuli using a linear regression function indicated in increase of.89 milliseconds (msec) per year of age. Further analysis was completed separating younger and older groups (less than 45 years and over 45 years). Results indicated linear slope functions of ;Due to high intersubject variability and frequent absence of P300 in otherwise normal subjects it is suggested that longitudinal intrasubject measures may represent the best use for P300 ERPs to follow the course of a disorder or to monitor therapy progression.