Gamma band response in children is related to task-stimulus processing

The present study described the functional characteristics of early phase-l ocked electroencephalographic gamma band (30-60 Hz) responses (GBRs) in 9- to 12-year-old healthy children. GBRs were elicited in an auditory selectiv e-attention task. Target stimuli required motor responding when presented t o the right or to the left (attended side). Effects of stimulus type releva nce and attended side were evaluated for GBR power and phase-locking within 0-120 ms. GBRs in children were frontally distributed, were larger and bet ter phase-locked to targets relative to non-targets, but did not depend on the attended side. These results demonstrate that the auditory GBR is relat ed to task-stimulus processing and imply that early target selection in chi ldren is guided by a sensory or sensorimotor preparatory set, rather than b y an internal attentional focus to the side of stimulation. NeuroReport 11: 2325-2330 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.