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EEG Theta Power in Bangladeshi Children: Associations With Early Experiences and Cognitive Outcomes
Eileen F Sullivan1,2, Ran Wei3, Shahria Kakon4
1Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Better nutrition in infancy is linked to improved brain activity and higher cognitive function in Bangladeshi children. This research highlights the importance of early nutrition for cognitive development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Early adverse experiences can impact children's cognitive development.
- Understanding the neural mechanisms is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early experiences, electroencephalography (EEG) theta power, and cognitive outcomes in Bangladeshi children.
- To examine EEG theta power at 6 months and 2 years, and cognitive outcomes at 5 years.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 115 Bangladeshi children (data collected 2015-2021).
- EEG theta power measured at 6 months and 2 years.
- Cognitive assessments conducted at 5 years.
- Nutritional status assessed in early childhood.
Main Results:
- Better nutritional status correlated with a slower increase in theta power from 6 months to 2 years.
- Improved nutrition was associated with higher cognitive scores at 5 years.
- Higher frontocentral theta power at 2 years predicted better 5-year cognitive outcomes.
- Theta power did not mediate the link between nutrition and cognition.
Conclusions:
- Early nutritional status influences neural development, specifically theta power trajectories.
- Theta power at 2 years is a potential indicator of later cognitive ability.
- Findings underscore the importance of early nutrition for cognitive development and neural processes in children.
Abstract:
Identifying the neural processes that underlie the association between children's early adverse experiences and cognitive development could inform more effective intervention strategies. The goal of the current study (data collected 2015-2021) was to examine relations among early experiences at 6 months, electroencephalography (EEG) theta power at 6 months and 2 years, and cognitive outcomes at 5 years in Bangladeshi children (N = 115; 67 females). Results revealed that better nutritional status was associated with a slower increase in theta power from 6 months to 2 years and higher cognitive scores at 5 years. Higher frontocentral theta power at 2 years was related to better cognition at 5 years but did not mediate the association between nutritional status and cognition.
