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EEG power spectrum maturation in preterm fetal growth restricted infants
Emily Cohen1, Flora Y Wong2, Euan M Wallace3
1The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Level 5 Monash Children's Hospital, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Preterm fetal growth restricted infants show altered sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) maturation, with changes in brain activity resolving by 6 months. This study highlights differences in EEG power spectrum development in p-FGR infants compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age peers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectral analysis is a non-invasive tool for assessing infant brain maturation.
- Preterm fetal growth restriction (p-FGR) is associated with altered EEG power spectra, suggesting delayed brain development.
- Longitudinal data on EEG power spectrum maturation in p-FGR infants are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain maturation in p-FGR infants using sleep EEG power spectral analysis.
- To compare EEG maturation between p-FGR infants and preterm appropriate-for-gestational-age (p-AGA) and term AGA (t-AGA) controls.
- To examine changes in EEG power spectrum maturation longitudinally at 1 and 6 months post-term.
Main Methods:
- Sleep EEG recordings were obtained from 13 p-FGR, 17 p-AGA, and 19 t-AGA infants at 1 and 6 months post-term.
- Sleep states (active and quiet) were scored, and power spectral analysis was performed using Fast Fourier Transform on a single EEG channel.
- Relative power in delta, theta, alpha, sigma, and beta frequency bands, and spectral edge frequency were calculated.
Main Results:
- At 1 month post-term, p-FGR infants exhibited a significantly higher spectral edge frequency in quiet sleep compared to p-AGA infants.
- This was characterized by reduced delta power and increased theta, alpha, and beta power in p-FGR infants versus p-AGA infants.
- p-FGR infants also showed increased beta power compared to t-AGA infants; these differences were not observed at 6 months or during active sleep.
Conclusions:
- p-FGR infants demonstrate altered sleep EEG power spectrum maturation compared to AGA peers during early infancy.
- These neurophysiological differences appear to resolve by 6 months post-term age.
- Sleep EEG power spectral analysis can reveal subtle alterations in brain maturation related to fetal growth restriction.
Abstract:
Power spectral analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive method to examine infant brain maturation. Preterm fetal growth restricted (p-FGR) neonates display an altered EEG power spectrum compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) peers, suggesting delayed brain maturation. Longitudinal studies investigating EEG power spectrum maturation in p-FGR infants are lacking, however. We thus aimed to investigate brain maturation using sleep EEG power spectral analysis in p-FGR infants compared to preterm and term AGA controls (p-AGA and t-AGA, respectively). EEG was recorded during spontaneous sleep in 13 p-FGR, 17 p-AGA and 19 t-AGA infants at 1 and 6 months post-term age. Infant sleep states (active and quiet sleep) were scored using standard criteria. Power spectral analysis of a single-channel EEG (C3-M2/C4-M1) was performed using Fast Fourier Transform. The EEG power spectrum was divided into delta (0.5-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), sigma (12-14 Hz) and beta (14-30 Hz) frequency bands. Relative (%) powers and the spectral edge frequency were calculated. The spectral edge frequency was significantly higher in p-FGR infants compared to p-AGA controls in quiet sleep at 1 month post-term age (p < .01). This was due to significantly reduced %-delta and significantly increased %-theta, %-alpha and %-beta power (p < .01 for all) compared to p-AGA infants. p-FGR infants also showed significantly increased %-beta power compared to t-AGA infants (p < .05). No group differences were observed in active sleep or at 6 months post-term age. In conclusion, p-FGR infants show altered sleep EEG power spectrum maturation compared to AGA peers. However, changes resolved by 6 months post-term age.
