Unveiling the hidden electroencephalographical rhythms during development: Aperiodic and Periodic activity in healthy subjects

Brenda Y Angulo-Ruiz; Elena I Rodríguez-Martínez; Vanesa Muñoz; Carlos M Gómez

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2024.11.014

Unveiling the hidden electroencephalographical rhythms during development: Aperiodic and Periodic activity in healthy subjects

Clin Neurophysiol. 2024 Nov 28:169:53-64. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.11.014. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Brenda Y Angulo-Ruiz¹, Elena I Rodríguez-Martínez², Vanesa Muñoz³, Carlos M Gómez⁴

Affiliations

¹ Human Psychobiology Laboratory, Experimental Psychology Department, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela S/N 41018, Seville, Spain. Electronic address: bangulo@us.es.
² Human Psychobiology Laboratory, Experimental Psychology Department, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela S/N 41018, Seville, Spain. Electronic address: elisroma@us.es.
³ Human Psychobiology Laboratory, Experimental Psychology Department, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela S/N 41018, Seville, Spain. Electronic address: lmunnoz@us.es.
⁴ Human Psychobiology Laboratory, Experimental Psychology Department, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela S/N 41018, Seville, Spain. Electronic address: cgomez@us.es.

PMID: 39626343
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.11.014

Abstract

Objective: The study analyzes power spectral density (PSD) components, aperiodic (AP) and periodic (P) activity, in resting-state EEG of 240 healthy subjects from 6 to 29 years old, divided into 4 groups.

Methods: We calculate AP and P components using the (Fitting Oscillations and One-Over-f (FOOOF)) plugging in EEGLAB. All PSD components were calculated from 1-45 Hz. Topography analysis, Spearman correlations, and regression analysis with age were computed for all components.

Results: AP and P activity show different topography across frequencies and age groups. Age-related decreases in AP exponent and offset parameters lead to reduced power, while P power decreases (1-6 Hz) and increases (10-15 Hz) with age.

Conclusions: We support the distinction between the AP and P components of the PSD and its possible functional changes with age. AP power is dominant in the configuration of the canonical EEG rhythms topography, although P contribution to topography is embedded in the canonical EEG topography. Some EEG canonical characteristics are similar to those of the P component, as topographies of EEG rhythms (embedded) and increases in oscillatory frequency with age.

Significance: We support that spectral power parameterization improves the interpretation and neurophysiological and functional accuracy of brain processes.

Keywords: Aperiodic-Component; Child-development; EEG; Neural-Oscillations; Periodic-Component; Working-Memory.