Development of novel methods for analysis of autonomic balance and gamma coherence in autism.

Autism;EEG;Gamma coherence;Autonomic function;Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Marie Katherine Hensley

University:University of Louisville

Department:Bioengineering

关键词: Autism;    EEG;    Gamma coherence;    Autonomic function;    Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS);   

Others  :  https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1606&context=etd

美国|英语

来源: The Universite of Louisville's Institutional Repository

【 摘 要 】

INTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by difficulty in social interactions, limited range of interests, and repetitive behaviors. ASD has been shown to negatively affect both ambient vision and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The objectives of this thesis were to determine the efficacy of two novel therapies, visuo-motor training with ambient prism lenses and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), on autonomic balance and EEG gamma coherence. Heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance level (SCL) were used as indicators of autonomic function. HRV is an excellent indicator of autonomic balance because it has a low frequency (LF) component, representative of combined parasympathetic and sympathetic inputs, and a high frequency (HF) component, representative of parasympathetic only inputs. SCL is controlled solely by sympathetic inputs and is therefore indicative of sympathetic tone. Gamma coherence refers to the coactivation of different regions of the brain during completion of a task. DATA COLLECTION: Autonomic measures of heart rate (HR) and SCL were collected for both the prism lens study and the rTMS study. Patients enrolled in the prism lens study were fitted with an appropriate pair of lenses and performed daily visuo-motor exercises for six months. Autonomic data was collected twice: once at the baseline (before treatment) and again after completing the prism lens training course. Patients enrolled in the rTMS study underwent 18 weekly sessions of TMS. Autonomic data was collected during each session. EEG data was collected twice for both the prism lens and rTMS study, once before and after the course of therapy. Behavioral checklists such as the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Repetitive Behavior Checklist (RBS) were completed by the subjects’ parents before and after therapy. DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS: HR and SCL data collected as the patients watched scenes from The Lion King (prism lens study) or as patients received TMS (rTMS study) was exported into Microsoft Excel to begin pre-processing. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 14.0 software. HR data was further analyzed using Kubios HRV software to calculate heart rate variability (HRV) measures. EEG data was exported into a software program called Brain Electrical Source Analysis (BESA) for analysis of gamma coherence. RESULTS: Results from the prism lens study show that average HR among participants decreased significantly after completion of prism lens therapy. There was also a decrease in LF power, an increase in the percentage of HF power,