Autism spectrum disorder disrupts brain network connectivity maturation during childhood development

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a significant challenge in understanding developmental trajectories, hindering early intervention.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for ASD is crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the brain maturation trajectory in children with ASD level 1 compared to neurotypical children.
• To explore electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers, including alpha power, peak alpha frequency, and transfer entropy, for detecting developmental differences.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) on 35 children with ASD level 1 and 35 neurotypical children during resting state.
• Analyzed group differences and age-related changes in alpha power, peak alpha frequency, and transfer entropy.

Main Results:

• Significant disruptions in directional brain network communication were observed in children with ASD.
• Altered development of occipital alpha power and peak alpha frequency was identified in the ASD group.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a developmental disruption in brain maturation within autism spectrum disorder.
• Findings provide valuable insights into autism pathology mechanisms and support the development of novel intervention strategies.