Differences in EEG Coherence in Infants at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

April. R. 1,2
Levin , Marc F. 2,3
Shi , Helen 4
Tager-Flusberg , and Charles A. 2,3
Nelson

1Neurology, 2Laboratories 3Harvard 4Boston
Boston Children’s Hospital, of Cognitive Neuroscience, Boston Children’s Hospital, University, University
Harvard
Medical School
Introduction
Summary of Results

§  The goal of the present study is to determine whether electroencephalography (EEG) §  The trajectory of mean resting EEG coherence varies over time

coherence patterns in infants differ by risk for, and eventual diagnosis of, autism spectrum §  By outcome: Peak coherence (particularly in delta and theta) occurs later in children who
disorder (ASD). develop ASD, compared to children who do not develop ASD.

§  By risk status: High risk children show a peak in beta and gamma coherence not seen in
§ ASD is associated with alterations in neural connectivity. Connectivity can be measured by low risk children.

EEG, using analyses such as coherence. Prior studies have demonstrated:
§ Altered mean EEG coherence in toddlers and adults with ASD1,2 § The relationship between short and long range coherence does not vary in a consistent way
§ A decreased ratio of long:short range coherence in children with ASD3 by risk status or outcome.

§ Data presented here are part of a broader study aiming to identify EEG findings in infants,
prior to the onset of behavioral manifestations of ASD, that predict a later diagnosis of ASD.
Discussion

§ Infant siblings of children with ASD are at high risk for autism (HRA). Mean Coherence Trajectories Over Time

§ 20% of HRA children will develop ASD. 4
§ Preliminary data described here demonstrate that the trajectory of mean resting EEG
§ Infant siblings of typically developing children are low risk controls (LRC). Delta (2-4 Hz) Theta (4-6 Hz) Beta

(13-30 Hz) Gamma (30-50 Hz) coherence varies over time, both by ASD outcome and risk status.
§ 1% of LRC children will develop ASD.
§ This distinction is particularly relevant when studying infants prior to the onset of behavioral
§ While studies in older children have demonstrated a decreased ratio of long:short range
manifestations of ASD, because HRA infants may have a different endophenotype than LRC
coherence in children with ASD,3 this pattern does not seem to be apparent in the age groups
infants, regardless of whether they develop ASD.5,6,7
being studied here. This highlights the importance of considering the developmental
trajectory in ASD, but also gives merit to the analysis of mean coherence in our sample.
§ We aimed to determine the extent to which mean coherence trajectories over time, and short
vs. long range coherence patterns, differ both by risk status (HRA vs. LRC) and by outcome
§ Data are preliminary, because subject numbers remain low in this study. This is due to:
(ASD vs. typical development).
§ Some children have not yet reached 24-36 months, and ASD outcome is therefore
unknown.
§ Artifact limits the amount of useable data in awake, freely-moving infants. We are
Methods
currently working on methodological adjustments to address this limitation.
§  Infant Sibling Project: Ongoing prospective cohort study of HRA and LRC infants

§ Approximately 300 children currently enrolled
§ EEG contains a large amount of data that can be analyzed using a variety of signal
§ At 24-36 months, each child is determined to be either typically developing without processing techniques. Here we demonstrate one such technique. We are currently
autism (TYD) or is diagnosed with ASD, using ADOS and clinical correlation.
investigating other techniques that appear promising in this regard.

§ Resting EEG included here was collected at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.


§  128 channel HydroCel Geodesic Sensor Net System (EGI, Inc.)

§ Early data were collected with the 64 channel Geodesic Sensor Net System (EGI, Inc.)

§  Sampling rate: 250 Hz

References

§ Later data were collected at 500 Hz and downsampled to 250 Hz
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§ Mean coherence in each frequency band was calculated by taking the average coherence
across all possible electrode pairs in the 10-20 system.

§ Subjects included:
Acknowledgements



Age (Months) High Risk High Risk Low Risk
+ASD TD TD We are grateful to the following organizations for their support of this project:

6 1 5 4 American Brain Foundation

12 2 5 3 Autism Science Foundation

24 4 4 9 Simons Foundation

36 2 10 14 NIDCD