Age- and gender-related differences in verbal semantic processing: the development of normative electrophysiological data in the Flemish population

Categorical and associative relationships among words are two key forms of semantic knowledge. In this study, we examined ageing and gender effects on the processing of both types of semantic relationships by using the event-related potential technique. Moreover, we aimed to develop normative electrophysiological data for clinical purposes. One hundred and ten healthy subjects were divided among three age groups and subjected to two auditory word priming paradigms. Early auditory processing was influenced by increasing age as shown by larger P1 amplitudes and by delayed onsets of the N1 and P2. Conversely, ageing effects on the main N400 effect were limited to an increased right hemispheric lateralisation pattern for associative relationships. Gender effects could be demonstrated, with women showing larger P2 amplitudes and larger semantic priming effects in comparison to men. The interpretation of these findings is discussed and the practical utility of the obtained normative data is emphasised.