P300 as a measure of processing capacity in auditory and visual domains in specific language impairment

This study examined the electrophysiological correlates of auditory and visual working memory in children with Specific Language Impairments (SLI). Children with SLI and age-matched controls (11;9–14;10) completed visual and auditory working memory tasks while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. In the auditory condition, children with SLI performed similarly to controls when the memory load was kept low (1-back memory load). As expected, when demands for auditory working memory were higher, children with SLI showed decreases in accuracy and attenuated P3b responses. However, children with SLI also evinced difficulties in the visual working memory tasks. In both the low (1-back) and high (2-back) memory load conditions, P3b amplitude was significantly lower for the SLI as compared to CA groups. These data suggest a domain-general working memory deficit in SLI that is manifested across auditory and visual modalities.

Research highlights► We compared behavioral and EEG correlates of auditory and visual memory in SLI. ► Children with SLI showed reduce auditory and visual working memory. ► Accuracy, RT and P3b amplitude indicate domain general processing limits for SLI. ► P3b latency does not support slower speed of processing accounts of SLI.