Multi-channel amplitude-integrated EEG characteristics in preterm infants with a normal neurodevelopment at two years of corrected age

Aim: To analyze quantitatively multi-channel amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) characteristics and assess regional differences. Methods: We investigated 40 preterm infants (postmenstrual age, PMA: range 27-37 weeks) with normal follow-up at 24 months of age, at a median postnatal age of 8 days using 4-h EEG recordings according to the international 10-20 system reduced montage. Nine (3 transverse and 6 longitudinal) channels were selected and converted to aEEG registrations. For each aEEG registration, lower margin amplitude (LMA), upper margin amplitude (UMA) and bandwidth (UMA-LMA) were calculated. Results: In all channels PMA and LMA showed strong positive correlations. Below 32 weeks of PMA. LMA was 32 weeks) brain. Conclusions: We detected symmetric increase of aEEG characteristics, indicating symmetric brain maturation of the left and right hemispheres. Our findings demonstrate the clinical potential of computer-assisted analyses of aEEG recordings in detecting maturational features which are not readily identified visually. This may provide an objective and reproducible method for assessing brain maturation and long-term prognosis.