Abstract

Defective cognition development during preschool years is believed to be linked with core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurophysiological research on mechanisms underly the cognitive disabilities of preschool-aged children with ASD is scarce currently. This pilot study aimed to compare the resting spectral EEG power of preschool-aged boys with ASD with their matched typically developing peers. Children in the ASD group demonstrated reduced central and posterior absolute delta (1–4 Hz) and enhanced frontal absolute beta (12–30 Hz) and gamma (30–45 Hz). The relative power of the ASD group was elevated in delta, theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), beta, and gamma bands as compared to the controls. The theta/beta ratio decreased in the frontal regions and enhanced at Cz and Pz electrodes in the ASD group. Correlations between the inhibition and metacognition indices of the behavior rating inventory of executive function-preschool version (BRIEF-P) and the theta/beta ratio for children of both groups were significant. In conclusion, the present study revealed atypical resting spectral characteristics of boys with ASD at preschool ages. Future large-sampled studies for the generalization of our findings and a better understanding of the relationships between brain oscillations and phenotypes of ASD are warranted.

摘要

学龄前认知发育缺陷被认为与自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的核心症状有关。目前，对学龄前自闭症儿童认知障碍机制的神经生理学研究很少。这项初步研究旨在比较患有 ASD 的学龄前男孩与其匹配的正常发育同龄人的静息频谱脑电图功率。ASD 组的儿童表现出中央和后部绝对 delta (1–4 Hz) 减少以及额叶绝对 beta (12–30 Hz) 和 gamma (30–45 Hz) 增强。与对照组相比，ASD 组的相对功率在 delta、theta (4–8 Hz)、alpha (8–12 Hz)、beta 和 gamma 波段有所升高。在 ASD 组中，theta/beta 比率在额叶区域降低，在 Cz 和 Pz 电极处增强。两组儿童执行功能学前版行为评定量表 (BRIEF-P) 的抑制和元认知指数与 theta/beta 比率之间的相关性显着。总之，本研究揭示了学龄前 ASD 男孩的非典型静息光谱特征。未来有必要进行大样本研究以推广我们的研究结果，并更好地理解大脑振荡与 ASD 表型之间的关系。