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Resting and Task-Modulated High-Frequency Brain Rhythms Measured by Scalp Encephalography in Infants with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

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Abstract

The electrophysiological correlates of cognitive deficits in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are not well understood, and modulations of neural dynamics by neuroanatomical abnormalities that characterize the disorder remain elusive. Neural oscillations (rhythms) are a fundamental aspect of brain function, and have dominant frequencies in a wide frequency range. The spatio-temporal dynamics of these frequencies in TSC are currently unknown. Using a novel signal decomposition approach this study investigated dominant cortical frequencies in 10 infants with TSC, in the age range 18–30 months, and 12 age-matched healthy controls. Distinct spectral characteristics were estimated in the two groups. High-frequency [in the high-gamma (>50 Hz) and ripple (>80 Hz) ranges], non-random EEG components were identified in both TSC and healthy infants at 18 months. Additional components in the lower gamma (30–50 Hz) ranges were also identified, with higher characteristic frequencies in TSC than in controls. Lower frequencies were statistically identical in both sub-groups. A significant shift in the high-frequency spectral content of the EEG was observed as a function of age, independently of task performance, possibly reflecting an overall maturation of developing neural circuits. This shift occurred earlier in healthy infants than in TSC, i.e., by age 20 months the highest dominant frequencies were in the high gamma range, whereas in TSC dominant frequencies above 100 Hz were still measurable. At age 28–30 months a statistically significant decrease in dominant high frequencies was observed in both TSC and healthy infants, possibly reflecting increased myelination and neuronal connection strengthening with age. Although based on small samples, and thus preliminary, the findings in this study suggest that dominant cortical rhythms, a fundamental aspect of neurodynamics, may be affected in TSC, possibly leading to impaired information processing in the brain.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital (CS), the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (NIH Award #UL1 RR 025758) (CS), and a Department of Defense grant (W81XWH-10) (CA). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors. We are grateful to the families of participating subjects, as they have made this research possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Radiology and Neurology and Clinical Research Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Catherine Stamoulis

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Catherine Stamoulis & Charles A. Nelson

  3. Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Vanessa Vogel-Farley, Geneva Degregorio & Charles A. Nelson

  4. Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, 1 Autumn St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Vanessa Vogel-Farley, Geneva Degregorio & Charles A. Nelson

  5. Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Shafali S. Jeste

Authors
  1. Catherine Stamoulis
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  2. Vanessa Vogel-Farley
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  3. Geneva Degregorio
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  4. Shafali S. Jeste
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  5. Charles A. Nelson
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Correspondence to Catherine Stamoulis.

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Stamoulis, C., Vogel-Farley, V., Degregorio, G. et al. Resting and Task-Modulated High-Frequency Brain Rhythms Measured by Scalp Encephalography in Infants with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 336–353 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1887-7

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