ERPs to words correlate with behavioral measures in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) participated in a research study that involved both electrophysiological and behavioral measures. Event related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during auditory presentation of known and unknown words. Behavioral measures of language/cognitive function and severity of autism symptoms were also collected at the time of ERP testing and again one year later. In general, higher functioning children with ASD exhibited more localized brain effects for differences between known and unknown words. Lower functioning children with ASD had more diffuse patterns of response to the different word classes and also exhibited a stronger right hemisphere lateralization. That is, they showed differences between known and unknown words at many electrode sites and larger differences in the right hemisphere. In addition, significant correlations were obtained between specific brain wave measurements for both known and unknown words and the various behavioral measures. Patterns of ERPs effectively predicted later behavioral scores.