Quantifying attention in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities through multicenter electrooculogram signal analysis

Sci Rep. 2024 Sep 27;14(1):22186. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70304-x.

Abstract

In a multicenter case-control investigation, we assessed the efficacy of the Electrooculogram Signal Analysis (EOG-SA) method, which integrates attention-related visual evocation, electrooculography, and nonlinear analysis, for distinguishing between intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and typical development (TD) in children. Analyzing 127 participants (63 IDD, 64 TD), we applied nonlinear dynamics for feature extraction. Results indicated EOG-SA's capability to distinguish IDD, with higher template thresholds and Correlation Dimension values correlating with clinical severity. The template threshold proved a robust indicator, with higher values denoting severe IDD. Discriminative metrics showed areas under the curve of 0.91 (template threshold) and 0.85/0.91 (D2), with sensitivities and specificities of 77.6%/95.9% and 93.5%/71.0%, respectively. EOG-SA emerges as a promising tool, offering interpretable neural biomarkers for early and nuanced diagnosis of IDD.

Keywords: Attention; Electrooculogram (EOG) signals; Eye movement; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Nonlinear analysis techniques.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention* / physiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Developmental Disabilities* / diagnosis
  • Developmental Disabilities* / physiopathology
  • Electrooculography* / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability* / diagnosis
  • Intellectual Disability* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted