[Comparative EEG study in normal and autistic children]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction and communication.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of ASD in children is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
• Previous research suggests differences in brain activity patterns between autistic and neurotypical individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively analyze spectral power and coherence in alpha, beta, and gamma electroencephalogram (EEG) bands.
• To investigate brain activity in 5-to-7-year-old autistic and healthy boys during rest and cognitive load (mental calculation).
• To identify potential EEG biomarkers differentiating autistic children.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of spectral power and averaged coherence in EEG bands (alpha, beta, gamma).
• Inclusion of 5-to-7-year-old boys, both autistic and healthy, with a mean age of 6 years 4 months.
• Assessment of brain activity during resting state and cognitive load (mental calculation).

Main Results:

• Both groups exhibited a frontal-occipital gradient in alpha activity at baseline.
• Cognitive tasks modulated alpha band spectral power, enhancing alpha1 and alpha3, and shifting maximum to the left hemisphere.
• Autistic children displayed right-sided dominance in alpha band spectral power and higher baseline gamma band power compared to healthy controls.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive load impacts EEG spectral power differently in healthy and autistic children.
• Distinct patterns in alpha and gamma band activity may serve as indicators for autism spectrum disorder in young boys.
• Further research into hemispheric dominance and fast rhythm activity in ASD is warranted.