Neonatal EEG network activity associates with 2-year neurodevelopment after perinatal asphyxia
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Background
Prediction of long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes remains challenging after perinatal asphyxia. Here, we studied whether computational metrics of brain function derived from neonatal EEG are associated with long-term neurodevelopment in infants with perinatal asphyxia.
Methods
Total of 36 term-born infants with perinatal asphyxia with or without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy were studied with neonatal multichannel electroencephalography (EEG). We computed local EEG amplitudes and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), as well as large-scale functional cortical networks estimated using amplitude-amplitude correlations (AAC) and phase-phase correlations (PPC). These EEG-derived markers were tested for associations with neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years, assessed using the Griffiths Scales of Child Development, 3rd edition (GMDS-III).
Results
EEG amplitudes showed positive associations with GMDS-III Foundations of Learning and General Development scores across most electrodes during quiet sleep, with the strongest effects observed at frontal and central regions (r = 0.44–0.66). PAC showed negative associations with the same scores mainly over parietal and temporal regions (r = −0.45 to −0.55). Cortical AAC networks demonstrated the most robust and widespread negative associations in all frequency bands during quiet sleep (r = −0.47 to −0.54), with 70–72% of connections significant in high delta frequency. In turn, PPC networks showed frequency-selective and more spatially constrained negative associations during quiet sleep (r = −0.48 to −0.53), involving 5–12% of the network.
Conclusions
Both local and network-based metrics in the newborn brain show significant association with neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years after perinatal asphyxia.
