Spontaneous resting‐state gamma oscillations are not predictive of autistic traits in the general population

Abstract

The autism spectrum hypothesis states that not only diagnosed individuals but also individuals from the general population exhibit a certain amount of autistic traits. While this idea is supported by neuroimaging studies, there have been few electrophysiological studies. In particular, there have been no spontaneous resting‐state studies yet. In order to examine the autism spectrum hypothesis, the present study tried to predict the level of autistic traits typically developing young adults (n = 93) exhibit from spontaneous resting‐state gamma power, a measure that has been linked to social functioning impairments seen in autism. The influence of age and gender was controlled for by employing regression. It was expected that enhanced gamma activity would be predictive of self‐reported autistic traits. The model with only age and gender included reached significance, with higher age within this student population being related to more autistic traits. However, no relationship between either low (30–50 Hz) or high (50–70 Hz) gamma power and autistic traits was found. Models with eyes closed low gamma asymmetry and eyes closed high gamma asymmetry included did reach significance, but these findings were not robust, and the gamma asymmetry explained very little additional variance above age and gender. In addition, exploratory correlation analyses showed no relationship between the other power spectra (delta, theta, alpha and beta) on the one hand and autistic traits on the other hand, suggesting that any relationship between spontaneous resting‐state brain electrophysiology and autistic traits might not be strong enough to be detected in the general population.

EEG Resting Asymmetries and Frequency Oscillations in Approach/Avoidance Personality Traits: A Systematic Review

“…In this sample, results suggested that gamma power was not related to the autistic quotient "AQ" score. This result may be due to the fact that autistic traits in the general population are not strong enough to be detected [65].…”

“…The association between resting-EEG activity and FFFS, was considered in four articles [64,66,67,69], but, of these, only two studies found significative results [64,66]. Furthermore, one study considered the relation among EEG gamma activity and autistic traits [65], one article studied the role of resilience [68], and two articles found a positive association between EEG alpha activity and emotional intelligence [39,50]. Some studies have observed a significant relation between autistic traits and approach/avoidance personality traits [129], as well as emotional intelligence [130] and resilience [131].…”

“…Many studies found that gamma-band activity is related to cognitive functions [141], such as perceptual binding [142], attention [143], working memory [144], language [145], and social interaction [146]. According to Groot and Van Strien [65], these domains are altered in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent studies assess that individuals with ASD have increased spontaneous gamma oscillations [147].…”

“…Recent studies assess that individuals with ASD have increased spontaneous gamma oscillations [147]. Thus, according to these studies and the autism spectrum hypothesis [74], De Groot and Van Strien [65] hypothesized that enhanced gamma-band activity could be considered as a biomarker of ASD-an endophenotype present in people with higher levels of autistic traits. To confute this supposition, the authors administered the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire [74] to right-handed male and female university students and recorded their EEG activity during a resting idling condition.…”

Orchestration of brain oscillations: principles and functions

“…Another neurodevelopmental condition oft‐linked with aberrant oscillatory functioning is autism (Murphy et al ., ), especially so in the gamma band (David et al ., ). In a sizeable cohort of young adults from the general population, De Groot & Van Strien () ask whether autism‐related traits in these ostensibly neurotypical individuals, might also be related to power across the gamma band. However, no such relationship was supported.…”