TY - JOUR
T1 - Atypical EEG complexity in autism spectrum conditions: A multiscale entropy analysis
AU - Catarino, Ana
AU - Churches, Owen
AU - Baron-Cohen, Simon
AU - Andrade, Alexandre
AU - Ring, Howard
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - Objective: Intrinsic complexity subserves adaptability in biological systems. One recently developed measure of intrinsic complexity of biological systems is multiscale entropy (MSE). Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have been described in terms of reduced adaptability at a behavioural level and by patterns of atypical connectivity at a neural level. Based on these observations we aimed to test the hypothesis that adults with ASC would show atypical intrinsic complexity of brain activity as indexed by MSE analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Methods: We used MSE to assess the complexity of EEG data recorded from 15 participants with ASC and 15 typical controls, during a face and chair matching task. Results: Results demonstrate a reduction of EEG signal complexity in the ASC group, compared to typical controls, over temporo-parietal and occipital regions. No significant differences in EEG power spectra were observed between groups, indicating that changes in complexity values are not a reflection of changes in EEG power spectra. Conclusions: The results are consistent with a model of atypical neural integrative capacity in people with ASC. Significance: Results suggest that EEG complexity, as indexed by MSE measures, may also be a marker for disturbances in task-specific processing of information in people with autism.
AB - Objective: Intrinsic complexity subserves adaptability in biological systems. One recently developed measure of intrinsic complexity of biological systems is multiscale entropy (MSE). Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have been described in terms of reduced adaptability at a behavioural level and by patterns of atypical connectivity at a neural level. Based on these observations we aimed to test the hypothesis that adults with ASC would show atypical intrinsic complexity of brain activity as indexed by MSE analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Methods: We used MSE to assess the complexity of EEG data recorded from 15 participants with ASC and 15 typical controls, during a face and chair matching task. Results: Results demonstrate a reduction of EEG signal complexity in the ASC group, compared to typical controls, over temporo-parietal and occipital regions. No significant differences in EEG power spectra were observed between groups, indicating that changes in complexity values are not a reflection of changes in EEG power spectra. Conclusions: The results are consistent with a model of atypical neural integrative capacity in people with ASC. Significance: Results suggest that EEG complexity, as indexed by MSE measures, may also be a marker for disturbances in task-specific processing of information in people with autism.
KW - Autism spectrum conditions
KW - Complexity
KW - Electroencephalography
KW - Face perception
KW - Multiscale entropy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80855148243&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.05.004
DO - 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.05.004
M3 - Article
SN - 1388-2457
VL - 122
SP - 2375
EP - 2383
JO - Clinical Neurophysiology
JF - Clinical Neurophysiology
IS - 12
ER -