Browsing by Author "Lahti, Outi"

Objectives. The aim of the current study was to explore the associations between executive functions i.e. working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility and auditory event-related potential (ERP) response P3a in 10–11-year-old children. The P3a is considered to reflect involuntary orientation of attention. Previous studies have proposed a relation between P3a and executive functions but there is very little research on the subject. Methods. The data was collected as a part of Arts@School -project. Forty-six children who participated in both electroencephalography recording (EEG) and a test of executive functions during autumn semester of the fourth grade of primary school were included in the current study. Both measurements were conducted during normal schooldays at the school. Children’s executive functions were assessed with a computer-based Modified Flanker task. Event- related potentials were recorded with a multifeature paradigm including a standard sound, five deviant sound types and novel sounds. The stimuli were presented through headphones while the participants were watching a movie without sound. P3a responses to the novel sounds are examined in the current study. Results and conclusions. Cognitive flexibility was found to be associated with P3a latency. Children who performed faster in cognitive flexibility tasks had also faster P3a responses. Working memory and inhibition were not associated with P3a latency. The results of the study partially support the hypothesis that faster P3a responses reflect more mature executive functioning. None of the studied executive functions was related to P3a amplitude. According to the study, differences in executive functions are not associated with the magnitude of distraction caused by novel sounds.