Exhibit 4(n)

                                OPTION AGR6EEMENT


     OPTION AGREEMENT,  dated as of January 11, 2002, between Carole Salkind, an
individual residing in the State of New Jersey  ("Optionee"),  and Artera Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Issuer").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Optionee wishes to acquire an option to purchase certain shares of
common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock") of Issuer,  as more
fully described herein; and

     WHEREAS Issuer is willing to grant  Optionee an option to purchase  certain
shares of Common Stock of Issuer, as more fully described herein;

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing  and  of  the  mutual
representations, covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

1.   Terms of Option.

     a)   Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
          Issuer hereby  grants to Optionee,  and Optionee  hereby  accepts from
          Issuer,  the right and option (the "Option") to acquire that number of
          shares  of Common  Stock  that,  as of the  Closing  Date (as  defined
          below),  constitutes  a ten percent  (10%) equity  interest in Issuer,
          taking into  account all  adjustments  under  Section 1(f) hereof (the
          "Option Shares").

     b)   Exercise Price.  The exercise price for Optionee's  acquisition of the
          Option  Shares  shall be equal to ten percent  (10%) of the  pre-money
          enterprise  value  attributed  to  Issuer  in  the  first  transaction
          following  the  date  hereof  in  which a person  or  entity  not then
          affiliated with Issuer  purchases,  or commits to purchase,  an equity
          interest in Issuer for payment  of, or a  commitment  to pay within 30
          days, at least $5,000,000 (the "Third Party Contribution").

     c)   c) Option  Period.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  hereof,  the
          Option may be  exercised by Optionee at any time and from time to time
          commencing on the date of the Third Party  Contribution and continuing
          until the date that is five (5) years after the date of this Agreement
          (the  "Option  Termination  Date"),  on which  date the  Option  shall
          expire. If the Option Termination Date occurs prior to any Third Party
          Contribution,  the Option shall expire on the Option  Termination Date
          without any exercise right having ever arisen.

     d)   Manner of  Exercise.  Optionee  may  exercise  the Option (an  "Option
          Exercise") by providing  written notice thereof to Issuer (the "Option
          Notice").  Exercise  may be  made  only as to all,  not  part,  of the
          Option.  Upon an exercise of the Option,  the  obligation of Issuer to
          consummate  the Closing (as defined in Section 2(a)  hereof)  shall be
          absolute,  except for the  satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
          Section 3(b) hereof.

     e)   Disclosure Schedule. At any time prior to the Option Termination Date,
          if  Optionee  has a good faith  interest in  investigating  a possible
          Option Exercise, Optionee may, by notice to Issuer, demand that Issuer
          deliver to Optionee a disclosure  schedule with respect to Issuer (the
          "Disclosure  Schedule").  Within 15 days of such notice,  Issuer shall
          deliver the Disclosure Schedule to Optionee, which Disclosure Schedule
          shall be true and  correct  as of a date no more than 30 days prior to
          the date of  delivery.  The  Disclosure  Schedule  shall  contain such
          financial  and other  material  non-public  information  regarding the
          Issuer as will enable Optionee to make an informed investment decision
          with  respect to an Option  Exercise and a  disposition  of the Option
          Shares. It shall be a condition of Issuer's  obligation to deliver the
          Disclosure    Schedule   that   Optionee    execute   an   appropriate
          non-disclosure  agreement  with respect to the  information  contained
          therein.

     f)   Anti-Dilution Protection.  The number of Option Shares as to which the
          Option is exerciseable shall be equitably adjusted for any increase or
          decrease,  at any time between the date hereof and the date the Option
          is exercised, in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common
          Stock  of  Issuer   after   the  date   hereof   resulting   from  any
          reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock split, stock distribution or
          combination  of shares,  or the  payment of a share  dividend or other
          increase  or  decrease  in the number of shares  outstanding  effected
          after  the date  hereof  and  without  the  receipt  of  consideration
          therefor by Issuer (other than stock or option grants that may be made
          to new or  current  employees  of  Issuer  pursuant  to a  stock-based
          compensation plan approved by Issuer's Board of Directors).

2.   Closing.

     a)   Time and Place.  The closing (the  "Closing")  of any Option  Exercise
          shall take 20 days after the date of the Option Notice, unless another
          time is agreed upon by the parties (the "Closing  Date").  The Closing
          shall be held at the principal offices of Issuer, unless another place
          is agreed upon by the parties.

     b)   Closing  Deliverables.  At the  Closing  of any Option  Exercise,  (i)
          Issuer shall deliver to Optionee a certificate representing the Option
          Shares   and  (ii)   Optionee   shall   deliver  to  Issuer  a  letter
          acknowledging receipt of the Option Shares.

3.   Closing Conditions

     a)   Closing  Conditions  of  Optionee.  The  obligations  of  Optionee  to
          consummate a Closing are subject to the  satisfaction of the following
          conditions precedent:  (i) between the date of the Disclosure Schedule
          and the Closing Date,  there shall have been be no material  change in
          the  representations  and warranties in the Disclosure  Schedule or in
          the assets, business, financial or operating condition or prospects of
          the Issuer;  (ii) all of Issuer's  representations  and Warranties set
          forth in  Section  4(a)  hereof are true and  correct in all  material
          respects as of the Closing Date; and (iii) Issuer shall have delivered
          to Optionee the stock certificate described in Section 2(b)(i) hereof.

     b)   Closing  Conditions of Issuer. The obligations of Issuer to consummate
          a Closing are subject to the  satisfaction of the following  condition
          precedent:  (i) all of Optionee's  representations  and Warranties set
          forth in  Section  4(b)  hereof are true and  correct in all  material
          respects  as of  the  Closing  Date;  and  (ii)  Optionee  shall  have
          delivered to Issuer the letter described in Section 2(b)(ii) hereof.

     c)   Effect of Failure  of  Condition.  If a  condition  to  Closing  fails
          hereunder and the Option Termination Date has not occurred, the Option
          shall be reinstated with respect to the Option  Exercise  contemplated
          by such Closing, as if the Option has not been exercised.

4.   Representations and Warranties.

     a)   Representations and Warranties by Issuer. Issuer hereby represents and
          warrants  to  Optionee,  as of the date  hereof and as of any  Closing
          Date,  that  (i)  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
          Agreement by Issuer and the issuance of the Option by Issuer have been
          duly  authorized  by the Board of  Directors  of Issuer;  and (b) upon
          exercise of the Option as described in this  Agreement and issuance of
          the Option Shares by Issuer to Optionee in connection  therewith,  the
          Option Shares shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
          non-assessable.

     b)   Representations and Warranties by Optionee. Optionee hereby represents
          and  warrants  to Issuer,  as of the date hereof and as of any Closing
          Date, that (i) the Option and, if the Option is exercised,  the Option
          Shares acquired thereby are being acquired for the account of Optionee
          for  investment,  and not with a  present  view to,  or for  resale in
          connection  with, the distribution  thereof,  and that Optionee has no
          present  intention of  distributing or reselling such  securities,  in
          each case,  other than pursuant to a registration  statement under the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");  (ii) Optionee is
          an "Accredited Investor" -------- as defined in Regulation D under the
          1933 Act; (iii) neither the Option nor any Option Shares acquired upon
          Option  Exercise shall be sold or transferred  unless they first shall
          have  been  registered  under  the 1933 Act and any  applicable  state
          securities  laws or unless Issuer first shall have been furnished with
          either (A) an opinion of legal  counsel (in form,  substance and scope
          reasonably  satisfactory  to Issuer)  to the effect  that such sale or
          transfer is exempt from the registration  requirements of the 1933 Act
          or (B)  satisfactory  representations  from Optionee that Optionee may
          immediately sell all of such securities (to the extent such securities
          are deemed  owned by Optionee  on the same date)  pursuant to Rule 144
          under the 1933 Act (or a successor thereto).

     c)   Option Share Legend. Upon issuance, the stock certificate representing
          the Option  Shares  shal bear on the face  thereof  substantially  the
          following legend, insofar as is consistent with Delaware law:

               "The shares of common stock  represented by this certificate have
               not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
               or the securities  laws of any state or other  jurisdiction,  and
               may not be sold,  offered  for  sale,  assigned,  transferred  or
               otherwise   disposed  of,  unless  registered   pursuant  to  the
               provisions of that Act and of such  securities laws or an opinion
               of counsel acceptable to the Corporation is obtained stating that
               such  disposition  is in compliance  with an available  exemption
               from such registration."

5.   Miscellaneous.

     a)   Expenses. Each party shall pay its own expenses (including expenses of
          legal counsel and other  advisors) in connection  with the negotiation
          and  performance of this Agreement and the  consummation of any Option
          Exercise and Closing.

     b)   Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, and any provision
          of  this  Agreement  may be  waived,  only  via a  written  instrument
          executed by both parties hereto. No course of dealing between or among
          any  persons  having any  interest  in this  Agreement  will be deemed
          effective to modify or amend any part of this  Agreement or any rights
          or obligations of any person under or by reason of this Agreement.b)

     c)   Notices.  Notices,  demands and other  communications given under this
          Agreement  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been given
          when  delivered (if  personally  delivered),  on the scheduled date of
          delivery  (if  delivered  via  commercial  courier),  three days after
          mailed (if mailed by  certified or  registered  mail,  return  receipt
          requested)  or when  sent by  facsimile  (if  sent by  facsimile  with
          evidence of successful transmission retained by the sender); provided,
          however, that failure to give proper and timely notice as set forth in
          the "with a copy to"  provisions  below shall not  invalidate a notice
          properly  and timely given to the  associated  party.  Unless  another
          address or  facsimile  number is specified  by notice  hereunder,  all
          notices shall be sent as follows:

If to Optionee:                            with a copy to:

Ms. Carole Salkind                         Peter Rosen, Esq.
c/o Sills, Cummis, Radin, Tishman,         Rosen & Avigliano
      Epstein & Gross                      431 Route 10 East
One Riverfront Plaza                       Randolph, NJ  07689
Newark NJ  07102

Facsimile:  973-643-6500                   Facsimile:  973-361-1644

If to Issuer:                              with a copy to:

Artera Group, Inc.                         NCT Group, Inc.
20 Ketchum Street                          20 Ketchum Street
Westport, CT  06880                        Westport, CT  06880
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer        Attention:  General Counsel
Facsimile:  203-226-4338                   Facsimile:  203-226-4338

     d)   Assignment.  This Agreement and all of the provisions  hereof shall be
          binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their
          respective  successors and permitted  assigns,  except that (i) Issuer
          may not assign this Agreement or any of Issuer's rights,  interests or
          obligations  hereunder  except  with  the  prior  written  consent  of
          Optionee;  and (ii)  Optionee may not assign this  Agreement or any of
          Optionee's rights,  interests or obligations hereunder except (A) with
          the prior written  consent of Issuer or (B) to an individual that is a
          member of Optionee's family.

     e)   Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will
          be  interpreted  in such  manner as to be  effective  and valid  under
          applicable  law, but if any provision of this  Agreement is held to be
          prohibited by or invalid under  applicable law, such provision will be
          ineffective  only to the  extent of such  prohibition  or  invalidity,
          without  invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining
          provisions of this Agreement.

     f)   Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between
          the parties with respect to the subject  matter hereof and  supersedes
          any prior understandings,  agreements or representations by or between
          the parties, written or oral, with respect to such subject matter.

     g)   Counterparts.   This   Agreement  may  be  executed  in  one  or  more
          counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more
          than  one  party,  and all  such  counterparts  taken  together  shall
          constitute one and the same instrument.

     h)   Governing Law and  Jurisdiction.  This Agreement  shall be governed by
          the  internal  laws  of the  State  of  Delaware,  without  regard  to
          conflicts of laws principles.  The parties hereto hereby submit to the
          exclusive  jurisdiction of the United States Federal Courts located in
          the state of New Jersey with respect to any dispute arising under this
          Agreement.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

ARTERA GROUP, INC.


By:    _______________________________________________
Name:  _______________________________________________
Title: _______________________________________________


______________________________________________________
CAROLE SALKIND