An associative learning procedure measured by Event-Related Potentials correlates with event memory in 14 month old children

• Deferred imitation (DI) reflects an early form of event memory but the underlying neural processes is to a large degree unknown. Thus, the present study examines how associative learning observed through event-related potentials (ERP) relates to DI as measured with an observation- only design.Thirty children participated in the study and acceptable ERP data was collected from 15 (9 boys). DI was measured with a thirty minutes delay and ERP was recorded with a Geodesic High Density Net with 128 electrodes. The ERP procedure consisted of two pairs of pictures presented six times (= the learning phase) and a test phase introducing two violations: Two familiar pictures in a new combination (ASSO) or a combination of one familiar and one novel picture (NOV). In addition, visual recognition memory was also measured.ERP revealed an Nc within 300-600 ms post stimuli. A higher mean amplitude was observed for ASSO (p < .05) and a marginal effect was noted for NOV (p = .055). Better DI performance correlated with larger Nc change scores between ASSO and the last presentation in the learning phase (rs (15) = .57; p < .05). Preliminary analyses of slow waves revealed no further relationship between ERP and DI and no significant correlation between DI and novelty preference. These findings indicate that electrophysiological indices of associative learning can be related to behavioral observations of early memory processes in young infants. 

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