Age-specific distributions of total power, frequency bands, and alpha/delta ratio in quantitative EEG

Abstract Introduction In children at high risk for acute cerebral injury, continuous full-channel EEG is the gold standard for assessing electrocortical function, but its availability and real-time expert review are often limited. To address this challenge, quantitative EEG has become increasingly prevalent. The study aimed to determine age-specific distributions of frequency spectra, power, and alpha/delta ratio in EEG channels commonly used in pediatric intensive care units. Methods This study was a post-hoc analysis of pediatric EEGs to determine age-specific aEEG reference values. 450 unremarkable EEGs from awake children aged between 1 month and 17 years without cerebral pathology and without neuroactive medication were used. The EEGs were analyzed using Persyst software and the power of frequency bands was calculated to determine age-specific distributions of total power, relative power, and alpha/delta ratio. Results The results showed that total power decreased with increasing age in both C-P channels and frontal leads. The alpha/delta ratio (ADR) varied strongly between age groups, with a significant increase in older children. Conclusion The distribution of EEG power, relative frequency power, and alpha/delta ratio in children without neurological disease or neuroactive medication is age-dependent in quantitative EEG.