PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 16901444

Differentiating autistic children with quantitative encephalography: a 3-month longitudinal study.

Agnes S Chan·Winnie W M Leung
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The present study used a single-channel quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) assessment to differentiate autistic children from normal control subjects. One hundred five normal and 17 autistic children participated in the study. In addition to amplitude measures of the frequency bands of delta, theta, alpha, sensorimotor rhythm, and beta and the theta to beta ratio, intra- (6 minutes) and intersessional (3 months) consistencies were also examined. The results indicated that autistic children showed significantly higher quantitative EEG amplitudes in many of the frequency bands than normal children; furthermore, their quantitative EEG activities were found to be relatively unstable within a 6-minute session compared with normal children. Discriminant function analyses revealed that absolute sensorimotor rhythm and beta amplitudes were the best predictors that correctly differentiated autistic children from normal children in the present sample, with a high accuracy rate of 95.2%. In addition, quantitative EEG measurements of normal and autistic children were found to be generally consistent across the 3-month period.

Explore related subjects

Autistic DisorderBrainCase-Control StudiesChildElectroencephalographyFemaleHumansIntelligenceLongitudinal StudiesMaleMultivariate AnalysisReproducibility of ResultsJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Agnes S Chan, Winnie W M Leung. 2006. Differentiating autistic children with quantitative encephalography: a 3-month longitudinal study.. https://doi.org/10.1177/08830738060210050501

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2008

One-year change in repetitive behaviours in young children with communication disorders including autism.

Repetitive behaviours are a relatively neglected area of study in autism. Previous research has concluded that repetitive behaviour is inversely related to ability and that it tends to increase over the preschool years. One-hundred and four children ages 24-48 months, with autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other disorders, were followed for 13 months. Twelve items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) were analysed, as well as diagnostic algorithm scores. Ability was related to degree of repetitive behaviours, except for one cluster of relatively able children. ADI-R repetitive behaviour algorithm scores increased over time; however, when all 12 behaviours were considered, there was a general decrease in impact upon the child's and family's activities. Reasons for this decrease are discussed.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed2007

Mutation screening of the ARX gene in patients with autism.

Mutations in the Aristaless related homeobox (ARX) gene are associated with a broad spectrum of disorders, including nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation, sometimes associated with epilepsy, as well as syndromic forms with brain abnormalities and abnormal genitalia. Furthermore, ARX mutations have been described in a few patients with autism or autistic features. In this study, we screened the ARX gene in 226 male patients with autism spectrum disorders and mental retardation; 42 of the patients had epilepsy. The mutation analysis was performed by direct sequencing of all exons and flanking regions. No ARX mutations were identified in any of the patients tested. These findings indicate that mutations in the ARX gene are very rare in autism.

Autistic Disorder↗