Resting State Cortical Connectivity Reflected in EEG Coherence in Individuals With Autism

Background: Theoretical conceptions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and experimental studies of cerebral blood flow suggest abnormalities in connections among distributed neural systems in ASD. Methods: Functional connectivity was assessed with electroencephalographic coherence between pairs of electrodes in a high-density electrode array in narrow frequency bands among 18 adults with ASD and 18 control adults in an eyes closed resting state. Results: In the θ (3-6 Hz) frequency range, locally elevated coherence was evident for the ASD group, especially within left hemisphere frontal and temporal regions. In the lower α range (8-10 Hz), globally reduced coherence was evident for the ASD group within frontal regions and between frontal and all other scalp regions. The ASD group exhibited significantly greater relative power between 3 and 6 Hz and 13-17 Hz and significantly less relative power between 9 and 10 Hz. Conclusions: Robust patterns of over- and under-connectivity are apparent at distinct spatial and temporal scales in ASD subjects in the eyes closed resting state.