High Delta Waves & Autism

Autism is a complex disorder affecting one in 100 children in the United States. The Autism Society of America (ASA) describes autism as a disability with no single known cause, but as a disorder that seems to be based in brain dysfunction.

The Brain's Role

• Autistic brains are different than those of typical children..

  Neurologist Margaret Ayers presented research at a Loyola University conference stressing the need to investigate the brain's role in autism. Ayers argues that there are many individuals with autism who have no genetic or vaccination history to suggest that those issues caused their disorder. Furthermore, scans of typical children's brains look very different from those of autism-affected individuals.

Brainwaves

• There are four types of brain waves.

  The Sleep Disorders Guide website defines brainwaves as the cyclical changes in electric brain activity that reflect levels of alertness and are measured by a test called an EEG (electroencephalogram). There are four types of brainwaves: beta, alpha, theta and delta.

Delta Waves

• Delta waves occur when an individual is unconscious and in deep sleep and sometimes during difficult mental activities. These types of waves vary significantly from person to person.

Ayers Study

• When Ayers looked at the EEG results of individuals with autism, she noted some interesting themes, such as spikes in the delta wave patterns and asynchronous connections between hemispheres.

Washington Study

• Brain activity affects behavior.

  A University of Washington study expanded on Ayers' discoveries. Specifically, it noted a high level of connectivity in the left hemisphere, intensifying delta and theta waves. These irregularities, which may account for many challenges experienced by autistic individuals, suggest poor internal brain communication.