ObjectivesThe auditory spatial processing abilities mature throughout childhood and degenerate in older adults. This study aimed to compare the differences in onset cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) and location-evoked acoustic change complex (ACC) responses among children, adults, and the elderly and to investigate the impact of aging and development on ACC responses.DesignOne hundred and seventeen people were recruited in the study, including 57 typically-developed children, 30 adults, and 30 elderlies. The onset-CAEP evoked by white noise and ACC by sequential changes in azimuths were recorded. Latencies and amplitudes as a function of azimuths were analyzed using the analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression model.ResultsThe ACC N1’-P2’ amplitudes and latencies in adults, P1’-N1’ amplitudes in children, and N1’ amplitudes and latencies in the elderly were correlated with angles of shifts. The N1’-P2’ and P2’ amplitudes decreased in the elderly compared to adults. In Children, the ACC P1’-N1’ responses gradually differentiated into the P1’-N1’-P2’ complex. Multiple regression analysis showed that N1’-P2’ amplitudes (R2 = 0.33) and P2’ latencies (R2 = 0.18) were the two most variable predictors in adults, while in the elderly, N1’ latencies (R2 = 0.26) explained most variances. Although the amplitudes of onset-CAEP differed at some angles, it could not predict angle changes as effectively as ACC responses.ConclusionThe location-evoked ACC responses varied among children, adults, and the elderly. The N1’-P2’ amplitudes and P2’ latencies in adults and N1’ latencies in the elderly explained most variances of changes in spatial position. The differentiation of the N1’ waveform was observed in children. Further research should be conducted across all age groups, along with behavioral assessments, to confirm the relationship between aging and immaturity in objective ACC responses and poorer subjective spatial performance.SignificanceACCs evoked by location changes were assessed in adults, children, and the elderly to explore the impact of aging and development on these differences.

中文翻译：

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声学变化复合体揭示了听觉空间处理中与年龄相关的差异

目标听觉空间处理能力在整个童年时期成熟，并在老年人中退化。本研究旨在比较儿童、成人和老年人的起始皮质听觉诱发电位 (CAEP) 和位置诱发声变化复合体 (ACC) 反应的差异，并探讨衰老和发育对 ACC 反应的影响。该研究共招募了17人，其中正常发育儿童57人，成人30人，老年人30人。记录由白噪声引起的起始CAEP和由方位角连续变化引起的ACC。使用方差分析、Pearson 相关分析和多元线性回归模型来分析作为方位角函数的潜伏期和振幅。结果成人的 ACC N1'-P2' 振幅和潜伏期、儿童的 P1'-N1' 振幅和 N1老年人的振幅和潜伏期与位移角度相关。与成人相比，老年人的 N1'-P2' 和 P2' 幅度降低。在儿童中，ACC P1'-N1' 反应逐渐分化为 P1'-N1'-P2' 复合体。多元回归分析表明 N1'-P2' 幅度（右2= 0.33) 和 P2' 延迟 (右2= 0.18）是成人中两个最可变的预测因子，而在老年人中，N1' 潜伏期（右2= 0.26）解释了大部分差异。尽管起始CAEP的幅度在某些角度上有所不同，但它不能像ACC反应那样有效地预测角度变化。结论位置诱发的ACC反应在儿童、成人和老年人中存在差异。成人的 N1'-P2' 幅度和 P2' 潜伏期以及老年人的 N1' 潜伏期解释了空间位置变化的大部分差异。在儿童中观察到 N1' 波形的分化。应在所有年龄组中进行进一步的研究以及行为评估，以确认客观 ACC 反应中的衰老和不成熟与较差的主观空间表现之间的关系。对成人、儿童和老年人中位置变化引起的 ACC 进行了评估，以探索其意义衰老和发育对这些差异的影响。