Abstract:
Objective:
A previously published randomized clinical trial indicated that a developmental behavioral intervention, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), resulted in gains in IQ, language, and adaptive behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This report describes a secondary outcome measures from this trial, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity.
Method:
Forty-eight children with ASD, 18–30 months, were randomized into ESDM or referral to community intervention for two years. Post-intervention (48 to 77 months), EEG activity (event-related potentials and spectral power) was measured during presentation of faces versus objects. Age-matched typical children were also assessed.
Results:
The ESDM group exhibited greater improvements in autism symptoms, IQ, language, and adaptive and social behavior than the community intervention group. Both the ESDM group and typical children showed shorter Nc latency and increased cortical activation (reduced alpha and increased theta power) when viewing faces, whereas the community intervention group showed the opposite pattern (shorter latency and greater cortical activation when viewing objects). Greater cortical activation while viewing faces was associated with improved social behavior.
Conclusions:
This was the first trial to demonstrate that ESDM intervention is associated with normalized patterns of brain activity of young children with ASD, which are associated with improvements in social behavior.
Clinical trial registration information—Early Characteristics of Autism; https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT00090415.