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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor Cerebral Function Monitor to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Assessment of neonatal EEG background and neurodevelopment in full-term small for their gestational age infants
José R Castro Conde1,2, Candelaria González Campo3, Nieves L González González4,5
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain. jcastro@ull.edu.es.
Insights
Small-gestational-age (SGA) neonates exhibit immature EEG patterns, correlating with lower neurodevelopmental scores at two years. This highlights the link between birth weight, brain activity, and long-term outcomes in term infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric EEG
Background:
- Small-gestational-age (SGA) infants are at risk for delayed brain development.
- Neonatal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns can indicate brain maturity.
- Understanding EEG in SGA term neonates is crucial for predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify immature neonatal EEG patterns in SGA term neonates.
- To assess the association between these EEG patterns and neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years of age.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study comparing 50 SGA and 44 appropriate-gestational-age (AGA) term neonates.
- Continuous video-EEG recordings (>3 hours) were performed on neonates.
- Neurodevelopment was assessed at 2 years using Bayley-III Scales for 73 infants.
Main Results:
- SGA neonates showed significantly higher rates of discontinuous EEG, asynchrony, interhemispheric asymmetry, and delta-brushes compared to AGA infants.
- SGA infants had altered power spectrum (lower delta, higher alpha) and lower motor, cognitive, and language scores.
- Specific EEG markers (asymmetry >5%, interburst-interval >5s, discontinuity >11%, delta-brushes >11%) correlated with poorer Bayley-III scores.
Conclusions:
- SGA term neonates frequently exhibit immature EEG patterns.
- Both low birth weight and EEG immaturity are independently associated with lower neurodevelopmental scores.
- Immature EEG patterns in SGA neonates serve as a potential biomarker for neurodevelopmental deficits.
Background:
Delayed brain function development in small-gestational-age (SGA) infants has been reported. We aimed to quantify rates of immature neonatal EEG patterns and their association with neurodevelopment in SGA full-term neonates.
Methods:
Using a cohort design, 50 SGA (birthweight <10th percentile) and 44 appropriate-gestational-age (AGA) term neonates underwent continuous video-EEG recordings lasting >3 h. Seventy-three of them were assessed at 2-years-old using Bayley-III-Scales. For EEG analysis, several segments of discontinuous/alternating EEG tracings were selected.
Main Outcomes Measured:
(1) Visual analysis (patterns of EEG maturity); (2) Power spectrum in δ, θ, α and β frequency bands; and (3) scores in motor, cognitive and language development.
Results:
(1) SGA infants, compared to AGA, showed: (a) higher percentages of discontinuous EEG, both asynchrony and interhemispheric asymmetry, and bursts with delta-brushes, longer interburst-interval duration and more transients/hour; (b) lower relative power spectrum in δ and higher in α; and (c) lower scores on motor, language and cognitive neurodevelopment. (2) Asymmetry >5%, interburst-interval >5 s, discontinuity >11%, and bursts with delta-brushes >11% were associated with lower scores on Bayley-III.
Conclusions:
In this prospective study, SGA full-term neonates showed high rates of immature EEG patterns. Low-birthweight and immaturity EEG were both correlated with low development scores.
