The development of peak alpha frequency from infancy to adolescence and its role in visual temporal processing: A meta-analysis

• Published in: Developmental cognitive neuroscience Vol. 57; p. 101146
• Main Authors: Freschl, Julie, Azizi, Lina Al, Balboa, Lilyann, Kaldy, Zsuzsa, Blaser, Erik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alpha Rhythm; Child, Preschool; Children; Development; Electroencephalography; Humans; Infant; Peak alpha frequency; Review; Sensation; Time Perception; Visual Perception; Visual temporal processing; Peak alpha frequency; Development; Alpha rhythm; Visual temporal processing; Children
• ISSN: 1878-9293; 1878-9307; 1878-9307
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101146

While it has been shown that alpha frequency increases over development (Stroganova et al., 1999), a precise trajectory has not yet been specified, making it challenging to constrain theories linking alpha rhythms to perceptual development. We conducted a comprehensive review of studies measuring resting-state occipital peak alpha frequency (PAF, the frequency exhibiting maximum power) from birth to 18 years of age. From 889 potentially relevant studies, we identified 40 reporting PAF (109 samples; 3882 subjects). A nonlinear regression revealed that PAF increases quickly in early childhood (from 6.1 Hz at 6 months to 8.4 Hz at 5 years) and levels off in adolescence (9.7 Hz at 13 years), with an asymptote at 10.1 Hz. We found no effect of resting state procedure (eyes-open versus eyes-closed) or biological sex. PAF has been implicated as a clock on visual temporal processing, with faster frequencies associated with higher visual temporal resolution. Psychophysical studies have shown that temporal resolution reaches adult levels by 5 years of age (Freschl et al., 2019, 2020). The fact that PAF reaches the adult range of 8–12 Hz by that age strengthens the link between PAF and temporal resolution. •Determined the developmental trajectory of Peak Alpha Frequency (PAF).•PAF increases from 6 Hz in early infancy and asymptotes at 10 Hz by adolescence.•PAF increase is consistent with the age-related increase in visual temporal resolution.•No effect of resting state EEG methodology (eyes-closed vs. eyes-open) or sex on PAF.