ORIGINAL RESEARCH

EEG sensorimotor rhythms in children with autism spectrum disorders

About authors

V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russia

Correspondence should be addressed: Anna I. Kaida
Angarskaya, 38, Simferopol, 295001; moc.liamg@annaadyak

About paper

Funding: the study received a grant #VG08/2020 supported by Vernadsky Crimean Federal University.

Compliance with ethical standards: the study was approved by the Vernandsky Crimean Federal University ethics committee (Minutes #6 of June 04, 2020). Parents of the children submitted the informed consent forms allowing their children to participate in the experiment.

Author contribution: Kaida AI — data collection and processing, article authoring; Eismont EV — research planning, data collection, article authoring; Mikhailova AA — data processing, article authoring; Pavlenko VB — research planning, article authoring.

Received: 2020-08-19 Accepted: 2020-09-11 Published online: 2020-09-22
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One of the currently assumed causes of impaired social interaction exhibited by children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is dysfunction of the mirror neuron system (MNS), which is responsible for imitation, understanding the intentions and emotions of other people. Desynchronization of sensorimotor rhythms is considered to be the indicator of MNS activation. This study aimed to analyze the specific patterns of reactivity of the μ-rhythm in an individually determined frequency range and β-rhythm on the EEG in children with ASD during independent movements, observation, imitation and auditory perception of similar movements performed by another person. The data collected were compared to those describing normally developing children. The study involved right-handed children with ASD aged 5–10 (n = 10) and normally developing children (n = 10). In the independent movements exercise, β-rhythm desynchronization was more pronounced in children with ASD, with difference becoming significant in the P4 locus (p = 0.03). In the movements imitation exercise, the groups showed significant differences in the EEG μ-rhythm in the locus C3 (p = 0.03). Auditory perception of movements revealed significant differences in the ranges of both μ-rhythm (loci F3 and Fz (p = 0.02), F4 (p = 0.04), Cz (p = 0.009)) and β-rhythm (loci Fz (p = 0.01), F4 (p = 0.02)). In these situations, children with ASD exhibited synchronization of sensorimotor rhythms, while normally developing children showed desynchronization. The assumption is that the specific patterns revealed are the consequences of disruption of functions of MNS and anti-mirror system. The data obtained can be used in development of EEG biofeedback training protocols for children with ASD.

Keywords: children, EEG, autism, mu-rhythm, beta-rhythm, mirror neuron system

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