The evolution of some EEG features in normal and abnormal infants.
Evolutionary changes of EEG up to one year in 81 infants followed from neonatal periods were studied. Tracé alternant (TA) disappeared at 1-2 months in infants with normal outcome and those with cerebral palsy (CP or mental retardation (MR). In patients with CP & MR or those with CP & MR & epilepsy (EP), the time when TA disappeared was delayed. Presence of TA at or beyond 2 months suggests severe brain damage such as CP & MR, or CP & MR & EP. The spindle appeared within 3 months in normal infants and those with CP, but in some patients with CP & MR, or those with CP & MR & EP, no spindle ever appeared. The delay of its appearance beyond 3 months in considered to be an unfavorable sign. There is a very good correlation between neonatal background EEGs and the time of disappearance of TA and spindle appearance. The abnormal background EEGs after the first month suggested severe damage, and no specificity such as might reflect a certain type of developmental disability was found.
D000367:Age Factors; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000503:physiopathology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology