Paper
EEG Power Spectral Slope differs by ADHD status and stimulant medication exposure in early childhood.
Published Dec 1, 2019 · Sarah Furlong, C. A. Boettiger, M. M. Robertson
Journal of neurophysiology
138
Citations
12
Influential Citations
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness. Efforts towards the development of a biologically based diagnostic test have identified differences in the EEG power spectrum, most consistently reported is an increased ratio of theta to beta power during resting-state in those with the disorder, compared to controls. Current approaches calculate theta/beta ratio using fixed frequency bands, but the observed differences may be confounded by other relevant features of the power spectrum, including shifts in peak oscillation frequency, and altered slope or offset of the aperiodic 1/f-like component of the power spectrum. In the present study, we quantify the spectral slope and offset, peak alpha frequency, and band-limited and band-ratio oscillatory power in the resting-state EEG of 3-7-year-old children with and without ADHD. We found that medication-naïve children with ADHD had higher alpha power, greater offsets, and steeper slopes compared to typically developing children. Children with ADHD who were treated with stimulants had comparable slopes and offsets to the typically developing group despite a 24-hour medication washout period. We further show that spectral slope correlates with traditional measures of theta/beta ratio, suggesting the utility of slope as a neural marker over and above traditional approaches. Taken with past research demonstrating that spectral slope is associated with executive functioning and excitatory/inhibitory balance, these results suggest that altered slope of the power spectrum may reflect pathology in ADHD.
Observational Study
Very Rigorous Journal
Highly CitedADHD-nave children have higher alpha power, greater offsets, and steeper slopes in the EEG power spectrum, while stimulant-treated children show similar slopes and offsets to typically developing children.
Full text analysis coming soon...