Verbal and Nonverbal Mismatch Negativity in Children with Typical Development: Variables Analysis

Abstract

Introduction Mismatch negativity (MMN) is a promising instrument for the investigation of different auditory disorders, as it does not need behavioral responses. Objective To analyze the influence of the ear, gender and age variables in the MMN in children with typical development; and to compare the different measures of this potential, using verbal and nonverbal stimuli in the sample studied, providing reference values. Methods Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study, with 23 children, aged from 5 to 11 years and 11 months old, divided by age group. Mismatch negativity was performed using verbal and nonverbal stimuli, and the data was analyzed by means of the statistical Student t-test. Results No significant differences were noted for the ear, gender and age variables in the MMN with both stimuli. There were significant differences for the latency, duration and area variables when the stimuli were compared. The reference values established for nonverbal stimuli were: latency 249.8 milliseconds, amplitude 2.28 µv, duration 82.97 milliseconds, and area 137.3 microvolt x microseconds (μVx μs); as for the verbal stimuli, they were: latency 265.3 milliseconds, amplitude - 2.82 µv, duration 110.5 milliseconds, and area 225.5 microvolt x microseconds (μVx μs). Conclusion The variables studied did not influence the recordings of the MMN. Latency, duration and area of the MMN with verbal stimuli were higher. It was possible to furnish reference values for children with typical development in the age group studied.

Mismatch Negativity in Children with Deficits in Auditory Abilities

“…Another aspect to be considered when analyzing these data is that MMN was evoked binaurally as a way to mitigate the influence of attention in the electrophysiological responses, which was important considering our sample. Although several studies 8,18,20 have also elicited MMN binaurally, as in the present study, we must also consider the possibility of asymmetry in the response between the ears that could be better captured in a monaural assessment of the separate ears. As a possible limitation of the present study, further research on the topic and with this differentiating aspect in acquisition parameters should be designed to clarify this aspect.…”

“…To date, few studies 7,10,18 have tried to examine the correlation and/or association between electrophysiological measures and behavioral tests to provide reliable information regarding auditory abilities and how they are reflected in both assessments. A valid approach to address this matter would provide insights into the neural correlates of the psychoacoustics behavioral tests by performing an association analysis between both assessments.…”

“…The MMN component was considered the most prominent negativity following the N1 component, 18 with a minimum amplitude value of at least -0.3 µV. Thus, the amplitude values were collected from the greatest negative point up to the prestimulation line, 19 excluding the participation of the N1 component.…”

Innovating Therapies for Down Syndrome: An International Virtual Conference of the T21 Research Society

“…Electrocortical Correlates of Auditory Processing in DS Mismatch negativity is an auditory-related neuronal event that occurs when a sequence of repetitive sounds is interrupted by an occasional "oddball" sound that differs in frequency or duration [de Souza and Biaggio, 2021]. The inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus are the neural generators of the mismatch negativity.…”