title: Early behavioral intervention is associated with normalized brain activity in young children with autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A previously published randomized clinical trial indicated that a developmental behavioral intervention, the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), resulted in gains in IQ, language, and adaptive behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder. This report describes a secondary outcome measurement from this trial, EEG activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight 18- to 30-month-old children with autism spectrum disorder were randomized to receive the ESDM or referral to community intervention for 2 years. After the intervention (age 48 to 77 months), EEG activity (event-related potentials and spectral power) was measured during the 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 behaviors than the community intervention group. The ESDM group and typical children showed a shorter Nc latency and increased cortical activation (decreased α power and increased θ power) when viewing faces, whereas the community intervention group showed the opposite pattern (shorter latency event-related potential [ERP] 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 early behavioral intervention is associated with normalized patterns of brain activity, which is associated with improvements in social behavior, in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Washington (UW), and Autism Speaks. gdawson@autismspeaks.org
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Emily J H
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Merkle
authors.forename: Kaitlin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venema
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowy
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faja
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kamara
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murias
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenson
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Milani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sally J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome