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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development
Published on: April 9, 2014
Alterations in aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in young children with Down syndrome
Insights
Electroencephalography (EEG) in young children with Down syndrome (DS) reveals distinct brain activity patterns. These neurobiological differences in EEG, including theta and alpha power, are not solely due to cognitive delays.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Down syndrome (DS) is the leading cause of intellectual disability, but its underlying neurobiology remains poorly understood.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) is a valuable tool for studying neurodevelopmental disorders, yet research in young children with DS is limited.
- Investigating early-life EEG patterns can offer insights into the neurodevelopmental trajectory in DS.
Conclusions:
- Young children with Down syndrome exhibit distinct neurophysiological patterns in resting-state EEG.
- Specific EEG abnormalities, particularly in theta and alpha frequency bands, are associated with Down syndrome.
- These findings suggest that EEG alterations in DS are intrinsic and not merely a consequence of cognitive impairment.
Abstract:
Down syndrome is the most common cause of intellectual disability, yet little is known about the neurobiological pathways leading to cognitive impairments. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures are commonly used to study neurodevelopmental disorders, but few studies have focused on young children with DS. Here we assess resting state EEG data collected from toddlers/preschoolers with DS (n=29, age 13-48 months old) and compare their aperiodic and periodic EEG features with both age-matched (n=29) and cognitive-matched (n=58) comparison groups. DS participants exhibited significantly reduced aperiodic slope, increased periodic theta power, and decreased alpha peak amplitude. A majority of DS participants displayed a prominent peak in the theta range, whereas a theta peak was not present in age-matched participants. Overall, similar findings were also observed when comparing DS and cognitive-matched groups, suggesting that EEG differences are not explained by delayed cognitive ability.
