We compared frequency and power of neonatal EEG delta brush rapid oscillatory activity (ROA) using multiple band frequency analysis (MBFA) in three groups; pre-term (PT, post-conceptional age 33-35.6 weeks, n=5); full-term (FT, 39.4-40.6 weeks, n=5) and pre-term or full-term with phenobarbital exposure (PB, n=5). Mean number of delta brushes analyzed was 29.4 (range 26-47) in PT, 20.8 (14-33) in FT and 20 (7-37) in PB. Mean frequency+/-standard deviation (s.d.) was 16.9+/-2.1 Hz (range 15-20 Hz) in PT, 17.3+/-1.9 Hz (15-20 Hz) in FT and 16.1+/-1.6 Hz (14-19 Hz) in PB. Mean power+/-s.d. was 22.9+/-6.2 microV(2) (range 16-39 microV(2)) in PT, 11.9+/-4.1 microV(2) (7-19 microV(2)) in FT and 17.1+/-6.2 microV(2) (9-26 microV(2)) in PB. Power was significantly higher in PT than FT (p<0.005). Power after merging PB into respective PT (PT', n=8) and FT (FT', n=7) groups, remained significantly higher in PT' (mean+/-s.d. 21.8+/-7.4 microV(2)) than FT' (11.4+/-3.6 microV(2)) (p<0.05). We characterise ROA in delta brushes in maturing neonates using MBFA, which may provide additional information for assessing future seizure recurrence and epilepsy risk.
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