EEG Theta Power in Bangladeshi Children: Associations With Early Experiences and Cognitive Outcomes

Identifying the neural processes that underlie the association between children's early adverse experiences and cognitive development could inform more effective intervention strategies. The goal of the current study (data collected 2015-2021) was to examine relations among early experiences at 6 months, electroencephalography (EEG) theta power at 6 months and 2 years, and cognitive outcomes at 5 years in Bangladeshi children (N = 115; 67 females). Results revealed that better nutritional status was associated with a slower increase in theta power from 6 months to 2 years and higher cognitive scores at 5 years. Higher frontocentral theta power at 2 years was related to better cognition at 5 years but did not mediate the association between nutritional status and cognition.