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Published on: September 6, 2017
Electrophysiological assessment of the brain function in term SGA infants
Ozmert M A Ozdemir1, Hacer Ergin, Türker Sahiner
1Department of Pediatrics, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli 20100, Turkey. drozmert@gmail.com
Insights
Term infants small for gestational age (SGA) show delayed brain maturation in the first three months. Electroencephalography (EEG) analysis revealed significant differences in brain activity patterns compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Neurophysiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Small for gestational age (SGA) infants are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) is a valuable tool for assessing brain maturation in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of SGA on the maturation of cerebrocortical electrographic activity using EEG.
- To quantitatively analyze EEG power spectral characteristics in SGA versus AGA infants.
Main Methods:
- Serial EEGs were recorded from 40 term SGA and 20 term AGA infants during the first week, first month, and third month postnatally.
- Power spectral analysis was conducted on five specific EEG channels.
- Brain maturation was assessed by analyzing amplitude levels and frequency band activities (delta, theta, beta).
Main Results:
- SGA infants exhibited significantly lower EEG amplitude levels compared to AGA infants across all recordings.
- While delta activity decreased with age in AGA infants, it increased in SGA infants in the midline vertex region.
- Conversely, beta activity increased with age in AGA infants but decreased in SGA infants in the midline vertex region.
- Theta activity was lower in the frontal-central regions of SGA infants.
Conclusions:
- Term SGA infants demonstrate delayed cerebrocortical electrophysiological maturation during the first three months of postnatal life.
- Specific EEG frequency band alterations in SGA infants suggest a maturational delay.
- These findings highlight the utility of EEG in identifying neurophysiological differences in SGA infants.
Abstract:
Small for gestational age (SGA) infants are defined as babies having a birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age. A great number of studies have shown that children with SGA have an increased risk of impaired neurodevelopment. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an excellent method for measuring brain maturation in newborns. In this study, the effect of SGA on the maturation of cerebrocortical electrographic activity was investigated by the EEG and also analyzed with power spectral analysis. Serial EEGs were performed in 40 term SGAs, and 20 term appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants in 1st week, 1st and 3rd month. Power spectral analysis was performed quantitatively in five channels (Fp1-C3, C3-O1, Fp2-C4, C4-O2, and Cz-C4 channels). Amplitude levels of the SGA group were significantly lower than the AGA group in all records. Delta frequency was the major frequency component in the groups. Delta frequency activities in the midline vertex region were decreased in the AGA group with increasing postconceptual age while the activities of the SGA group were increased. Contrarily, beta frequency activities in the midline vertex region were increased in the AGA group with increasing postconceptual age while these activities of the SGA group were decreased. Theta frequency activities in the fronto-central regions were lower in the SGA group. In terms of the vertex, k-complex, and sleep spindle, there was no difference between the two groups. We conclude that cerebrocortical electrophysiological maturation has been delayed in term SGA infants during the first three months of postnatal life.
