Alpha asymmetry in infants at risk for autism spectrum disorders

J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Feb;45(2):473-80. doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-1926-4.

Abstract

An emerging focus of research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) targets the identification of early-developing ASD endophenotypes using infant siblings of affected children. One potential neural endophenotype is resting frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha asymmetry, a metric of hemispheric organization. Here, we examined the development of frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in ASD high-risk and low-risk infant populations. Our findings demonstrate that low and high-risk infants show different patterns of alpha asymmetry at 6 months of age and opposite growth trajectories in asymmetry over the following 12 months. These results support the candidacy of alpha asymmetry as an early neural ASD endophenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Alpha Rhythm / physiology*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / physiopathology*
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Endophenotypes*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prodromal Symptoms*
  • Siblings / psychology