P3 Amplitudes of Positive, Negative and Neutral Social Judgments in Young Children

The focus of the current study was on brain activities of young children during social judgment processing. We examined, using electro-encephalogram (EEG), amplitude differences of the P3 components between positive, negative and neutral social judgments in children between the age of four and six. In addition, the relation between individual differences in empathy and the difference score of the P3 amplitude between social acceptance and social rejection was studied. Before the start of the experiment, participants received a self-chosen stuffed animal. During EEG data acquisition participants were presented with same-aged peer judgments referring to their stuffed-animal. Empathy of the participants was measured by using the My Child Questionnaire and by performing the Sally-Anne task. Results showed a clear P3 amplitude between 500 and 800 milliseconds after stimulus onset. However, contrary to what was expected, no significant differences between positive, negative and neutral...Show moreThe focus of the current study was on brain activities of young children during social judgment processing. We examined, using electro-encephalogram (EEG), amplitude differences of the P3 components between positive, negative and neutral social judgments in children between the age of four and six. In addition, the relation between individual differences in empathy and the difference score of the P3 amplitude between social acceptance and social rejection was studied. Before the start of the experiment, participants received a self-chosen stuffed animal. During EEG data acquisition participants were presented with same-aged peer judgments referring to their stuffed-animal. Empathy of the participants was measured by using the My Child Questionnaire and by performing the Sally-Anne task. Results showed a clear P3 amplitude between 500 and 800 milliseconds after stimulus onset. However, contrary to what was expected, no significant differences between positive, negative and neutral social judgment processing were found. Furthermore, empathy was not found to be related to P3 amplitude differences between social acceptance and social rejection. Although no statistical results were found, current research provides new hypothesis for further research that refers to social feedback processing in children between four and six years old.Show less

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P3 Amplitudes of Positive, Negative and Neutral Social Judgments in Young Children