EEC FINDINGS IN FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME AND DOWN-SYNDROME CHILDREN

Results from previous studies evaluating the electroencephalograms (EE Gs) of infants born to alcoholic mothers suggest that the neonatal EEG may be a sensitive measure of prenatal ethanol exposure. Few studies, however, have examined EEG records of adolescent children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The present study investigated the resting EEG recordings of 18 matched triads of FAS, Down syndrome, and normal con trol subjects. Significant reductions in mean power of the alpha frequ encies (7.5-12 Hz) were seen for both clinical groups, however, each s yndrome appeared to have distinct EEG spectral distributions. Down syn drome children overall had diffuse EEG slowing while the EEG records o f the FAS children showed reduced power, particularly in the alpha fre quencies in the absence of significant slow activity. In the Down synd rome children, significant decreases in alpha power was seen in poster ior cortical regions, whereas FAS children were more affected in the l eft hemisphere. This study suggests that certain EEG variables may be helpful in characterizing the neurophysiology of FAS.