313 - Differences between Preterm and Full-Term Infants in Electroencephalogram Aperiodic Power Spectral Slope: Evidence of Male Vulnerability

Poster Number: 313
Publication Number: 313.3125

Background: Despite improved rates of survival, infants born preterm are at increased risk for long-term neurodevelopment impairment. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive tool that measures the electrical current between two scalp electrodes and allows for the early detection of variation in brain development. The EEG power spectrum follows a 1/f pattern and consists of periodic and aperiodic components. The aperiodic component corresponds to the power spectral density (PSD) slope, which is a measure of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity. Alterations to PSD slope are linked to disorders of neurodevelopment.

Objective: The objective of the study is to identify differences between preterm infants at near term-equivalent age and full-term infants in PSD slope.

Design/Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of two different studies at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Premature infants (N=33) (30 0/7 and 36 0/7 weeks’ gestation) and full-term infants (N=28) were included. Behavioral state coding and EEG were performed at near term-equivalent age in premature infants and within 36 hours after birth in full-term infants. EEG power was calculated using 1-second fast Fourier transformations and averaged for each electrode. The natural log of the power spectrum data was computed and plotted vs the natural log of the frequency spectrum. The aperiodic parameter was extracted in the 30 to 45 Hz range in each of the 14 regions. Linear regression models were fit for each of the 14 scalp regions in active (AS) and quiet sleep (QS) to examine the association between PSD slope and infant age group. A correction for multiple comparisons was performed. For post-hoc analysis, a second set of models was fitted with an interaction term (infant age group x sex).

Results: In AS, PSD slope was significantly less negative in preterm vs full-term infants in 12 of 14 regions and in 4 of 14 regions after correction for multiple comparisons. In QS, the PSD slope was significantly less negative in preterm vs full-term infants in 5 of 14 regions but statistical significance was not maintained after correction for multiple comparisons.

In AS, PSD slope was significantly less negative in 11 of 14 regions in preterm vs full-term female infants and in 2 of 14 regions in preterm vs full-term male infants. In QS, PSD slope was significantly less negative in 8 of 14 regions in preterm vs full-term female infants but there were no significant differences in preterm vs full-term male infants.

Conclusion(s): PSD slope may be an early measure of atypical brain-behavior development in premature infants.