EEG power spectra of normal preadolescent twins. Gender differences of quantitative EEG maturation

To determine developmental changes of quantitative EEG maturation, we investigated the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra in a sample of 72 pairs of healthy twins (144 subjects, 75 girls and 69 boys) ranging in age from 7-15 years. Main spectral parameters were measured in 16 EEG channels. The statistical significance of differences in the EEG power spectra was compared in relation to age and gender. Gender differences were tested by comparing the EEG parameters of boys and girls in the whole sample and separately in the subgroup of dizygotic twins of the opposite sex (DZO twin pairs). A statistically significant decrease of absolute power occurred with increasing age. A significant redistribution of relative power also appeared in higher age, mainly consisting of a progressive increase of alpha 2 power inversely related to relative alpha 1 and theta power. Polynomial regression models of the relation between alpha 2 and theta relative power with age were best described by a 5-order function. The mean frequency of activity across all spectra also increased with age and was maximal in the eldest subjects (13-15 years), with a significantly higher mean frequency of alpha 2 power in females. Similar age and gender differences were less marked in the subgroup of DZO twin pairs. The topographic distribution of spectral bands in normal subjects suggested an earlier maturation of midparietal or occipital than frontocentral regions, and indicated that the growth spurt does not occur simultaneously over homologous right and left hemisphere regions at the same age.