RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore age-, and valence specific ERP-characteristics of word-discrimination processes. METHODS: A group of young (mean age: 21.26 yrs) and elderly (mean age: 65.73 yrs) individuals participated. The task was to respond to a word (target) with valence (neutral, negative, positive) and disregard others (non-target) with a different valence. Behavioral indices and the N4 and late positive complex (LPC) components were analyzed. RESULTS: For words with negative valence performance was better for non-target stimuli in the young. Higher N4 was elicited by negative non-target words in the fronto-central areas. Target words elicited a P3b-like LPC in the young while a P3a-like LPC was observed in the elderly. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that inhibition elicited by aversive events is observed for word stimuli as well, and is most effective in the young. SIGNIFICANCE: The effect of valence during emotional word discrimination shows age-dependent differences reflected by ERPs.