Dr. John E. Richards - Journal Articles

Reynolds, G.D., & Richards, J.E.(2005). Familiarization, attention, and recognition memory in infancy: An ERP and cortical source localization study. Developmental Psychology, 41, 598-615. (PDF)

This study investigated the effects of familiarization and attention on event-related-potential (ERP) correlates of recognition memory in infants. Infants of 4.5, 6, or 7.5 months of age were either familiarized with two stimuli that were used during later testing, or presented two stimuli that were not used later. Then, infants were presented with a recording of Sesame Street to elicit attention or inattention, and presented with familiar and novel stimuli. A negative ERP component over the frontal and central electrodes (Nc) was larger in the familiarization group for novel than for familiar stimulus presentations, whereas the Nc did not differ for the group not receiving a familiarization exposure. Spatial independent components analysis of the EEG and “equivalent current dipole” analysis were used to examine putative cortical sources of the ERP components. The cortical source of Nc was located in areas of prefrontal cortex including the middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, and anterior cingulate cortex.