Pubertal maturation and timing effects on resting state electroencephalography in autistic and comparison youth.

Researchers studied brain wave patterns in autistic and non-autistic children and teens during puberty. They found that as children progress through puberty, their brain activity changes in specific ways. For autistic children, these pubertal brain changes were linked to social skills and repetitive behaviors. The study suggests that the timing and progression of puberty may affect how autistic children's brains develop differently than their peers.

This study examined how pubertal development affects brain activity patterns (measured by EEG) in 181 autistic and 94 comparison youth aged 8-17 years. Researchers found that more advanced pubertal development was associated with decreased brain wave power across all frequency bands. Early puberty specifically reduced theta and beta wave activity. In autistic participants, advanced pubertal development correlated with lower social skills, while alpha wave activity mediated the relationship between puberty and repetitive behaviors.

The findings suggest pubertal maturation and timing uniquely influence cognitive development in both autistic and comparison youth, highlighting the importance of considering puberty in developmental brain research.

Clinicians should consider pubertal timing and development when assessing autistic youth. Social skills interventions may be particularly important during pubertal transitions. The neurobiological changes during puberty may affect treatment responses and should inform intervention planning and timing.

The study does not specify methodology details, sample characteristics, or control variables clearly. The cross-sectional nature limits causal inferences about pubertal effects on brain development. Unclear whether findings generalize across different autism presentations or severity levels.

Autistic and comparison individuals differ in resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), such that sex and age explain variability within and between groups. Pubertal maturation and timing may further explain variation, as previous work has suggested alterations in pubertal timing in autistic youth. In a sample from two studies of 181 autistic and 94 comparison youth (8 years to 17 years and 11 months), mixed-effects linear regressions were conducted to assess differences in EEG (midline power for theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands). Alpha power was analyzed as a mediator in the relation between pubertal maturation and timing with autistic traits in the autistic groups to understand the role of puberty in brain-based changes that contribute to functional outcomes.

Individuals advanced in puberty exhibited decreased power in all bands. Those who experienced puberty relatively early showed decreased power in theta and beta bands, controlling for age, sex, and diagnosis. Autistic individuals further along in pubertal development exhibited lower social skills. Alpha mediated the relation between puberty and repetitive behaviors.

Pubertal maturation and timing appear to play unique roles in the development of cognitive processes for autistic and comparison youth and should be considered in research on developmental variation in resting-state EEG.