Reduced mismatch negativity (MMN) suggests deficits in preattentive auditory processing in distractible children

MISMATCH negativity (MMN) event-related brain potential reflects the:brain' s automatic auditory change detection mechanism that depends on integrity o f the auditory sensory memory. We studied MMN in easily distractible (n = 2 0) and in non-distractible (n = 20) healthy 9-year-old children. Two MMN ph ases were revealed in both groups: an earlier MMN peak at similar to 220 ms and a later negative slope similar to 300-500 ms after stimulus presentati on. The results suggested a strong frontal lobe contribution in the generat ion of the later MMN phase, and this response was significantly reduced in amplitude in the distractible children. The present findings suggest that d istractible children may have deficits in the frontally mediated aspects of auditory sensory memory. NeuroReport 10:3341-3345 (C) 1999 Lippincott Will iams & Wilkins.