The features of auditory passive perception while listening to sounds in healthy persons of young or advanced age (event-related potentials and psychology test analysis)

The study analyzed auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in 37 healthy right-handed subjects without any neurological or psychiatric disorders. Young age group consisted of 18 persons aged from 10 to 27; advanced age group included 19 persons aged from 32 to 59 years. ERPs were recorded from 32 scalp electrodes according to 10–20 System. Two-tones oddball paradigm including standard and target tones was used for ERP-recording. The sound sequence was given to examinees without any preliminary instruction. Complex psychology testing included Stroop Color and Word Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Significantly larger amplitude of N200 was detected in young subjects compared to advanced age ones. Wavelet-analysis revealed stronger wavelet-connections in the frontal–central area on the time range of P300 in in advanced age examinees vs. young ones. The correlation of the data of psychological tests examining the executive functions was detected with latency of P300 in young examinees and with amplitude of P300 in advanced age ones. Obtained data suggest that switching from one activity to another is prevalent in young persons and focusing on a current activity in advances age persons.