Electroencephalographic coherence abnormalities in preterm diplegia

Pediatr Neurol. 1998 Jan;18(1):51-6. doi: 10.1016/s0887-8994(97)00155-0.

Abstract

Twelve patients with spastic diplegia (SD) and visuoperceptual impairments from preterm birth were evaluated for electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power density, interhemispheric (ICoh) and intrahemispheric (HCoh) coherence, and asymmetry of coherence between the right and left hemispheres in and compared with normal children under resting conditions. There were no significant differences in EEG spectral power density. The SD group revealed lower ICoh at the occipital pair for the alpha band (P = .0034) and a higher value at the frontal pair for the theta band (P = .0047). Higher HCoh in SD was pronounced in the left hemisphere for the delta, theta, and beta bands (P < .01). There were no higher values in the control group. Higher HCoh asymmetry was exhibited in the left hemisphere in the control group, while very little asymmetry was found in the SD group. In both groups 91.7% were classified correctly by discriminant analysis. We suggest that these neurophysiologic abnormalities in preterm SD children correspond neuroanatomically to the callosal thinning and neuropsychologically to the visuoperceptual impairments.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cerebral Palsy / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Palsy / physiopathology*
  • Child
  • Discriminant Analysis
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / diagnosis
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male