Resting-state EEG functional connectivity changes following memantine administration in children with autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory pre-post study

Despite the widespread use of memantine in modulating excitatory/inhibitory balance, the precise changes in the topology of brain networks following memantine administration in preschool children remain clearly undefined. The objective of this study is a quantitative evaluation of brain functional connectivity changes associated with memantine administration in using EEG-based network analysis. In this research, 22 preschool ASD children underwent treatment with memantine for one month. Resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were recorded before and after the intervention. functional connectivity matrices were extracted using the Phase Locking Value (PLV) index. Individual-level analysis revealed a Neurophysiological heterogeneity pattern, consisting of a 64% Subgroup with increased network integration (n = 14) with increased connectivity and 36% with decreased connectivity. SPN analysis identified distinct spatial components of network reorganization: (1) localized connectivity suppression in the fronto-central (Fz, F3) and left occipital (O1) regions captured by lower-order spatial filters, and (2) reinforcement of long-range functional coupling and enhanced nodal centrality in the right parietal (P4) and left temporal (T3) regions in higher-order filters. These findings suggest spatial network reorganization patterns associated with memantine administration, characterized by a complementary balance between localized phase decoupling and long-range functional integration.