EEG power and coherence in autistic spectrum disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in executive function, language, emotional, and social functioning.
• Cerebral organization and function are implicated in ASD pathophysiology.
• Quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) offers insights into brain activity and connectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate quantitative EEG findings in children with autistic disorders.
• To compare EEG power and coherence patterns between children with ASD and neurotypical controls.
• To identify topographical differences in cerebral functioning related to ASD.

Main Methods:

• Recorded resting-state EEG in 20 children with ASD and 20 matched controls.
• Analyzed EEG data for absolute, relative, and total power.
• Examined intrahemispheric and interhemispheric coherences to assess neural connectivity.

Main Results:

• Significant group differences in EEG power and coherence were observed.
• Children with ASD exhibited excessive theta in posterior regions and deficient delta over the frontal cortex.
• A pattern of neural underconnectivity was found in ASD, with decreased intra- and interhemispheric coherences across various brain regions and frequency bands.

Conclusions:

• Results indicate dysfunctional integration of frontal and posterior brain regions in individuals with ASD.
• The findings suggest a pattern of neural underconnectivity contributing to autistic symptomatology.
• This study supports the role of neural connectivity anomalies as a core deficit in ASD, consistent with other neuroimaging research.