Neurometrics: Computer-Assisted Differential Diagnosis of Brain Dysfunctions

TLDR

Normative developmental equations reliably describe brain electrical activity across ages 6–90, and healthy individuals show only chance deviations, whereas patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders exhibit frequent abnormal values with disorder‑specific profiles. Computerized differential classification of brain dysfunctions achieves high accuracy, with deviation magnitude correlating with clinical severity, offering objective corroboration that can augment psychiatric diagnosis, validate treatments, and personalize therapy.

Abstract

Normative developmental equations provide reliable descriptors of brain electrical activity in people 6 to 90 years old. Healthy persons display only chance deviations beyond predicted ranges. Patients with neurological impairment, subtle cognitive dysfunctions, or psychiatric disorders (including dementia and primary depression) show a high incidence of abnormal values. The magnitude of the deviations increases with clinical severity. Different disorders are characterized by distinctive profiles of abnormal values of brain electrical features. Computerized differential classification of some of these disorders can be achieved with high accuracy. Such classification, providing objective corroboration of brain dysfunctions, may be a useful adjunct to psychiatric diagnosis, which relies primarily on subjective clinical impressions. These methods may provide independent criteria for diagnostic validity, evaluations of treatment efficacy, and more individualized therapy.