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EEG functional connectivity in term age extremely low birth weight infants
Philip G Grieve1, Joseph R Isler, Asya Izraelit
1Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, USA.
Insights
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants show distinct patterns of brainwave connectivity at term age. These differences in electrocortical synchrony may indicate future cortical development variations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants face risks for neurodevelopmental complications.
- Electrocortical functional connectivity is a key indicator of brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional differences in electrocortical functional connectivity between ELBW infants and typically developing full-term infants at term post-menstrual age.
Main Methods:
- Collected 128-lead EEG data during sleep from 8 ELBW infants and 8 full-term infants.
- Analyzed regional spectral power and coherence in the EEG data.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in EEG power were observed between the groups.
- ELBW infants exhibited reduced interhemispheric and intrahemispheric coherence in specific frequency bands (1-12Hz) and regions.
- Increased interhemispheric coherence was noted in occipital regions (24-50Hz) in ELBW infants.
Conclusions:
- ELBW infants demonstrate regional variations in EEG functional connectivity compared to term infants.
- These distinct spatial patterns of electrocortical synchrony may predict future cortical structural alterations.
Objective:
The hypothesis is tested that electrocortical functional connectivity (quantified by coherence) of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, measured at term post-menstrual age, has regional differences from that of full term infants.
Methods:
128 lead EEG data were collected during sleep from 8 ELBW infants with normal head ultrasound exams and 8 typically developing full term infants. Regional spectral power and coherence were calculated.
Results:
No significant regional differences in EEG power were found between infant groups. However, compared to term infants, ELBW infants had significantly reduced interhemispheric coherence (in frontal polar and parietal regions) and intrahemispheric coherence (between frontal polar and parieto-occipital regions) in the 1-12Hz band but increased interhemispheric coherence between occipital regions in the 24-50Hz band.
Conclusions:
ELBW infants at term post-menstrual age manifest regional differences in EEG functional connectivity as compared to term infants.
Significance:
Distinctive spatial patterns of electrocortical synchrony are found in ELBW infants. These regional patterns may presage regional alterations in the structure of the cortex.
