Event-related potentials to intact and disrupted actions in children and adults

► Investigated ERPs to novel events comprised of three actions in children and adults. ► Data reveal differential processing of intact versus disrupted actions by 24-months. ► Early-latency effects suggest preliminary perceptual processing of action disruptions. ► In adults, a clear mid-latency peak may index additional conceptual processing. ► Mature action interpretation may involve multiple levels of analysis.