Long-term stability of electroencephalographic asymmetry and power in 3 to 9 year-old children

We investigated the test–retest stability of resting EEG asymmetry and power in the alpha frequency range across a 0.6- to 3-year interval in 125 children (57 girls and 68 boys) for two age groups, 87 preschool children (3 to 5 year-olds) and 38 school-age children (6 to 9 year-olds). Children were from families with a parent's history of unipolar or bipolar depression (36 girls and 43 boys) or control families with no parent history of depression nor any other psychiatric disorder (21 girls and 25 boys). Frontal EEG asymmetry stability was low to moderate; intraclass correlations ranged from zero to 0.48 in the eyes-open condition, and from 0.19 to 0.45 in the eyes-closed condition. Also, parietal EEG asymmetry was low to moderate; intraclass correlations ranged from 0.21 to 0.52 in the eyes-open condition and from 0.27 to 0.72 in the eyes-closed condition. Stability of EEG asymmetry was not related to age, sex of the child, or parent's history of mood disorder. Frontal and parietal EEG power appeared moderately to highly stable. Intraclass correlations were between 0.65 and 0.86 in the eyes-open condition and between 0.52 and 0.90 in the eyes-closed condition. Although stability of EEG power was not statistical significantly different between preschool and school-age children, it consistently showed higher stability values in school-age children than in preschool children. Stability in school-age children approached values as has been reported for adults. The findings provide partial support to the concept of frontal EEG asymmetry as a trait marker in childhood.