Electrophysiological indices of emotion processing during retrieval of autobiographical memories by school-age children

We used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine emotion processing during retrieval of emotional autobiographical memories
by school-age children. We initiated processing of the emotional experiences using neutral cue words. On one-third of trials,
children were instructed to think of a memory of a negative event, and on another third of trials, they were instructed to
think of a memory of a positive event. We then recorded ERPs from 32 electrode sites as the children processed the emotional
memories again later in the testing session. The 7- to 10-year-old children generated memories appropriate to the valences
specified in the instructions. Neural responses differed as a function of the emotional valence of the events associated with
the cues and as a function of gender. In the sample as a whole, differential processing of positive relative to negative and
neutral emotions was apparent at posterior electrode sites 1,000–1,500 ms after stimulus onset. For girls, the effect was
apparent beginning at 500 ms. No differences between the neural responses to negative and neutral stimuli were observed. At
frontal electrode sites, girls evidenced faster processing of positive than of negative emotion, whereas boys evidenced faster
processing of negative than of positive emotion. In conclusion, we discuss the possible origins of gender-differential patterns
of neural processing.