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EEG Abnormalities as a Neurophysiological Biomarker of Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Cohort Study

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Abstract

To date, the phenotypic significance of EEG abnormalities in patients with ASD is unclear. In a population affected by ASD we aimed to evaluate: the phenotypic characteristics; the prevalence of EEG abnormalities; the potential correlations between EEG abnormalities and behavioral and cognitive variables. Sixty-nine patients with ASD underwent cognitive or developmental testing, language assessment, and adaptive behavior skills evaluation as well as sleep/wake EEG recording. EEG abnormalities were found in 39.13% of patients. EEG abnormalities correlated with autism severity, hyperactivity, anger outbursts, aggression, negative or destructive behavior, motor stereotypies, intellectual disability, language impairment and self-harm. Our findings confirmed that EEG abnormalities are present in the ASD population and correlate with several associated phenotypic features.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific Grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector. The authors have no financial relationship relevant to this article to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Neurology, Oasi Research Institute - IRCCS, via Conte Ruggero 73, Troina, EN, Italy

    Antonio Gennaro Nicotera, Elisa Maria Liprino, Emanuela Stracuzzi, Stefania Giusto, Giuseppina Di Vita & Sebastiano Antonino Musumeci

  2. MIND Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Randi Jenssen Hagerman

  3. Institute of Neurological Sciences, The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Catania, Italy

    Maria Vincenza Catania

  4. Oasi Research Institute - IRCCS, Troina, EN, Italy

    Maria Vincenza Catania

  5. Unit of Psychology, Oasi Research Institute - IRCCS, Troina, EN, Italy

    Serafino Buono

  6. Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Santo Di Nuovo

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  1. Antonio Gennaro Nicotera
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  2. Randi Jenssen Hagerman
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  3. Maria Vincenza Catania
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  6. Elisa Maria Liprino
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  7. Emanuela Stracuzzi
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  9. Giuseppina Di Vita
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  10. Sebastiano Antonino Musumeci
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Contributions

AGN and SAM conceived and planned the study. AGN wrote the manuscript. SAM and RJH supervised the project. SDN was involved in statistical analyses. AGN, MVC and SAM contributed to interpretation data. SB, ES, SG, GDV, and EML contributed to acquisition data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Antonio Gennaro Nicotera.

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Nicotera, A.G., Hagerman, R.J., Catania, M.V. et al. EEG Abnormalities as a Neurophysiological Biomarker of Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Cohort Study. J Autism Dev Disord 49, 2337–2347 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03908-2

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