Gender differences in the development of EEG coherence in normal children

General developmental patterns of mean electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence , computed from 16 scalp locations, were separately determined for 224 girl s and 284 boys ranging in age from 2 months to 161/2 years. Principal compo nents analysis of mean coherence developmental trajectories demonstrated ge nder-specific patterns and timing differences in the onset of synchronized- asynchronized oscillations. No brain region in either sex had a maturationa l plateau period. Differences in gender-specific rhythms were statistically significant in brain regions paired with frontal and temporal cortices. Fr om birth to age 6 years, girls exhibited synchronized EEG coherence peaks i n cortical regions known to be associated primarily with concurrent discrim ination, language processing, fine motor skills, and social cognition. Duri ng this same early period, boys exhibited synchronized EEG coherence peaks in cortical regions known to be associated primarily with spatial-visual di scrimination and executive planning related to gross motor movement, visual targeting, and accessing stored information. After age 6 years, both sexes exhibited large shifts in EEG coherence patterns with female synchronized changes now occurring in occipital and right temporal processing regions an d male synchronized changes now occurring in frontal and left temporal proc essing regions.