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Description
The spectral exponent (SE) describes the aperiodic, $1/f$-like background of the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum. This study investigates the usefulness of the SE in establishing a normative maturation trajectory to track healthy brain development. Using EEG data from 97 infants aged 0–5 years, we analyzed the $1/f$ power distribution across age groups. We found that a cubic regression model best fits the SE as a function of age, accurately capturing rapid maturation changes during the first year of life, followed by a slower increase. Next, we evaluated the prognostic value of this normative SE trajectory using EEG data from a clinical cohort of 27 infants with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), some with favorable outcomes and some with adverse ones. Our findings reveal significant differences in SE-derived Z-scores between the two outcome groups ($p \leq 0.01$), supporting the use of early prognostic assessments in neonatal HIE.
Francesco Colussi is a Ph.D. candidate in Bioengineering at the University of Padova under the supervision of Prof. Giovanni Sparacino and Dr. Maria Rubega. His research focuses on developing innovative bioengineering methods to automate the management and analysis of neurophysiological data in neonatal and pediatric populations, with an emphasis on typical neurodevelopment and neuropathological conditions.
Francesco earned his M.Sc. in Bioengineering from the University of Padova in 2024. Prior to beginning his Ph.D. studies, he was a postgraduate research fellow at the same university, where he started working on the development of EEG patterns in early childhood.