Resting-state EEG spectral characteristics before and after a single auditory integration training session in children with autism spectrum disorder

Background Resting-state EEG characteristics may differ between autistic and non-autistic children. Conventional band power mixes periodic and broadband activity; spectral parameterization separates periodic peaks from the aperiodic background. Auditory integration training (AIT) is used as a complementary intervention, but its immediate neurophysiological and clinical effects remain uncertain. We examined baseline EEG differences and pre-post changes around one AIT session. Methods Twenty children with ASD and 15 typically developing (TD) children aged 6–8 years participated. Resting EEG was recorded in ASD before and immediately after a 30-min Berard AIT session. Sixteen ASD participants had usable paired recordings. Relative power was measured in five bands. Periodic and aperiodic components were parameterized with FOOOF. Sensitivity analyses varied R-squared threshold, aperiodic mode, fitting settings, channel aggregation. Results At baseline, ASD showed higher delta and lower theta, alpha, and beta relative power than TD. After modeling peaks, aperiodic exponent and offset did not differ between groups. Among 16 paired ASD recordings, delta decreased and beta/gamma increased post-session; paired tests of exponent and offset were nonsignificant. Five of 20 baseline and seven of 18 post-session recordings had R-squared<0.90, but sensitivity analyses did not change null aperiodic findings. Conclusions This uncontrolled pilot study found immediate pre-post band-power differences around one Berard AIT session but no significant FOOOF-derived aperiodic changes. Findings are hypothesis-generating and cannot distinguish AIT-specific effects from repeated measurement, arousal, expectancy, or generic auditory stimulation. Variable fit quality and small sample limit precision; controlled longitudinal studies are needed.