Event-related potentials evoked by sensory stimulation in normal mentally retarded and autistic children.

Evoked potentials (EPs) and slow potentials (SPs) were recorded during two sessions of sound (S) and light (L) conditioning (habituation: S alone; conditioning: coupling of SL; extinction: S alone after SL series). 125 children from 0 to 15 were examined: 82 exhibited signs of autistic behaviour and/or mental retardation; 43 were normally adapted. Two studies were performed. The first was an analysis of relationships: 65 clinical characters were noted for each child with behaviour scales and psychometric tests, 88 electrophysiological data were measured on averaged tracings. The second compared with t and chi 2 square methods the electrophysiological data of 3 groups clinically defined for age and typical syndrome. Results of the two studies supplemented each other. From the clinical point of view 3 major groups appeared: (1) autism, (2) mental retardation, (3) normal adaptation. From an electrophysiological point of view 2 major groups could be defined: (1) few conditioned EPs with small amplitude, generalized conditioned SPs, small unconditioned EPs, generalized unconditioned SPs, conditioning 'to time'; (2) many conditioned EPs, many conditioned rhythmic potentials, absence of generalized SPs, many localized vertex negative SPs (CNVs), large unconditioned EPs, no conditioning to time. Some differences were observed in generalized SPs, small and positive in mentally retarded children, negative or positive in autistic children. EP and SP data clearly help to differentiate pathological groups from a normal group but are insufficient to distinguish the autistic from the mentally retarded children.