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EEG, cognitive and psychopathological abnormalities in children irradiated in utero
T K Loganovskaja1, K N Loganovsky
1Neurology Department, Institute of Clinical Radiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the Ukraine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Accident Management, Kiev. kosti@morton.kiev.va
Insights
Prenatal irradiation in children disrupts electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns and cognitive abilities. Left-hemisphere abnormalities are linked to developmental and behavioral disorders, suggesting vulnerability during critical gestation periods.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Radiology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to radiation is a known risk factor for developmental abnormalities.
- Understanding the long-term neurological and psychological effects of prenatal irradiation is crucial for early intervention and risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of prenatal irradiation on electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns, cognitive function, and psychological development in children.
- To compare neurological and psychological outcomes in prenatally irradiated children versus a control group.
Main Methods:
- Computerized electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis was performed on 50 children exposed prenatally and 50 controls (aged 9-10).
- Clinical neuropsychiatric examinations and IQ tests were administered to assess cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
- EEG data were analyzed for patterns, power spectral density, and hemispheric imbalances.
Main Results:
- Prenatally irradiated children exhibited disorganized EEG patterns, particularly slow and paroxysmal activity in the left fronto-temporal region.
- Significant increases in borderline/low IQ scores and decreases in high verbal IQ scores were observed in the exposed group.
- Developmental disorders (speech, language, scholastic skills) and behavioral/emotional issues were more prevalent, correlating with left-hemisphere EEG abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal irradiation adversely affects brain development, leading to neurological and cognitive deficits.
- The left hemisphere appears more vulnerable to prenatal irradiation, especially during 16-25 weeks of gestation.
- Findings suggest left-hemisphere limbic-reticular structure malfunction underlies mental disorders in prenatally irradiated children.
Abstract:
Computerised EEG, a clinical neuropsychiatric examination, and IQ tests were examined in 50 randomly selected prenatally irradiated 9-10-year-old children and compared with 50 randomly selected non-exposed control children of the same age. In the prenatally irradiated children a disorganised EEG-pattern with slow and paroxysmal activity (acute and high-voltage delta-waves, sometimes: spike-waves) in the left fronto-temporal region was disclosed. There was also a significant predominance of delta- and beta (dominant frequency: 20 Hz)-power in the frontal lobe, particularly, in the left fronto-temporal region, together with depressed spectral theta-power. The more disorganised EEG-patterns were observed in those children exposed at 8-15 weeks of prenatal development, while left-hemisphere abnormalities were more typical for those exposed later at 16-25 weeks of gestation. There was also a significant increase of borderline and low range (70-90) IQ scores and a significant decrease of high verbal (> 110) IQ scores. Disorders of psychological development, particularly specific developmental disorders of speech, language, and scholastic skills were more common and correlated with left-sided slow- and fast-wave activity. Behavioural and emotional disorders (social estrangement, exhaustion, emotional lability, tearfulness, apathy) were also more common and associated with a L > R imbalance in arousal. We hypothesise that the cerebral basis of mental disorders in the prenatally irradiated children is the malfunction of the left hemisphere limbic-reticular structures, particularly in those exposed at the most critical period of cerebrogenesis (16-25 weeks of gestation). We propose that the left hemisphere is more vulnerable to prenatal irradiation than the right.