Characteristics of the spectral power of EEG rhythms in children with early childhood autism and their association with the development of different symptoms of schizophrenia

摘要

Children aged 5-7 years with early childhood autism were found to have more marked right-sided predominance of alpha-rhythm spectral power both in baseline conditions and on cognitive loading (counting), along with a decreased level of alpha rhythm power than normal children. The spectral power of the fast rhythms increased from baseline on cognitive loading in healthy children. In early childhood autism, the spectral power of the gamma rhythm in baseline conditions was greater than that in healthy children. On cognitive loading, the spectral power of the fast rhythms changed to a lesser extent than in healthy children. D creased alpha rhythm power in children with autism may be a predictor for the transition from autism to schizophrenia (with both positive and negative symptomatology). The increased spectral power of the fast rhythms in baseline conditions observed here in children with early childhood autism is characteristic of schizophrenia with positive symptomatology, while the decreased reactivity of fast rhythms in response to cognitive loading seen here in patients has been described for schizophrenia with negative symptomatology.