TY - JOUR
T1 - Electroencephalogram aperiodic power spectral slope can be reliably measured and predicts ADHD risk in early development
AU - Karalunas, Sarah L.
AU - Ostlund, Brendan D.
AU - Alperin, Brittany R.
AU - Figuracion, McKenzie
AU - Gustafsson, Hanna C.
AU - Deming, Erika Michiko
AU - Foti, Dan
AU - Antovich, Dylan
AU - Dude, Jason
AU - Nigg, Joel
AU - Sullivan, Elinor
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - The aperiodic exponent of the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum has received growing attention as a physiological marker of neurodevelopmental psychopathology, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, its use as a marker of ADHD risk across development, and particularly in very young children, is limited by unknown reliability, difficulty in aligning canonical band-based measures across development periods, and unclear effects of treatment in later development. Here, we investigate the internal consistency of the aperiodic EEG power spectrum slope and its association with ADHD risk in both infants (n = 69, 1-month-old) and adolescents (n = 262, ages 11–17 years). Results confirm good to excellent internal consistency in infancy and adolescence. In infancy, a larger aperiodic exponent was associated with greater family history of ADHD. In contrast, in adolescence, ADHD diagnosis was associated with a smaller aperiodic exponent, but only in children with ADHD who had not received stimulant medication treatment. Results suggest that disruptions in cortical development associated with ADHD risk may be detectable shortly after birth via this approach. Together, findings imply a dynamic developmental shift in which the developmentally normative flattening of the EEG power spectrum is exaggerated in ADHD, potentially reflecting imbalances in cortical excitation and inhibition that could contribute to long-lasting differences in brain connectivity.
AB - The aperiodic exponent of the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum has received growing attention as a physiological marker of neurodevelopmental psychopathology, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, its use as a marker of ADHD risk across development, and particularly in very young children, is limited by unknown reliability, difficulty in aligning canonical band-based measures across development periods, and unclear effects of treatment in later development. Here, we investigate the internal consistency of the aperiodic EEG power spectrum slope and its association with ADHD risk in both infants (n = 69, 1-month-old) and adolescents (n = 262, ages 11–17 years). Results confirm good to excellent internal consistency in infancy and adolescence. In infancy, a larger aperiodic exponent was associated with greater family history of ADHD. In contrast, in adolescence, ADHD diagnosis was associated with a smaller aperiodic exponent, but only in children with ADHD who had not received stimulant medication treatment. Results suggest that disruptions in cortical development associated with ADHD risk may be detectable shortly after birth via this approach. Together, findings imply a dynamic developmental shift in which the developmentally normative flattening of the EEG power spectrum is exaggerated in ADHD, potentially reflecting imbalances in cortical excitation and inhibition that could contribute to long-lasting differences in brain connectivity.
KW - attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
KW - biomarkers
KW - electroencephalography
KW - infant
KW - neurodevelopmental disorders
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U2 - 10.1002/dev.22228
DO - 10.1002/dev.22228
M3 - Article
C2 - 35312046
AN - SCOPUS:85123050290
SN - 0012-1630
VL - 64
JO - Developmental Psychobiology
JF - Developmental Psychobiology
IS - 3
M1 - e22228
ER -