Mismatch negativity (MMN) and language in Spanish-speakers preschool children

The aim of the study was to describe the relationship between MMN responses, obtained by pairs of words in the Spanish language with different frequency content, and language features in Mexican preschoolers. We evaluated 12 Spanish speaking preschoolers ranging from 5 years 2 months to 6 years 3 months, right handed, of medium-low socioeconomic level, and from public schools in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. We created two groups based on their capacity for articulation in language: one without difficulties in articulation, and one with difficulties in articulation, further divided into mild, moderate and severe categories. To elicite the MMN, an oddball paradigm was used, with the word pair:/ajos/-/ojos/applied binaurally at an intensity of 90 dB. 83% of the children presented an expected MMN and 17% presented an early MMN. Of the seven children without language difficulties, two presented an expected MMN (150-350 ms.) and one presented an early MMN (100-150 ms.), of the five children with difficulties, one presented an early. The MMN response elicited by a word pair can be used as a tool to explore differences in acoustic language processing, which is the basis of language perception.