Test-retest reliability of the N2 event-related potential in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Abstract

ObjectiveThe N2 ERP component is used as a biomeasure of executive function in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of N2 amplitude in this population. MethodsERPs were recorded from 7 to 11-year-old children with ASD during Flanker (n = 21) and Go/Nogo tasks (n = 14) administered at two time points separated by approximately three months. Reliability of the N2 component was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). ResultsReliability for mean N2 amplitude obtained during the Flanker task was moderate (congruent: ICC = 0.542, 95% CI [0.173, 0.782]; incongruent: ICC = 0.629, 95% CI [0.276, 0.831]). Similarly, reliability for the Go/Nogo task ranged from moderate to good (‘go’: ICC = 0.817, 95% CI [0.535, 0.937]; ‘nogo’: ICC = 0.578, 95% CI [0.075, 0.843]). ConclusionsThese findings support the use of N2 amplitude as a biomeasure of executive function in school-aged children with ASD. SignificanceThis research addresses a critical gap in clinical neurophysiology, as an understanding of the stability and reliability of the N2 component is needed in order to differentiate variance explained by repeated measurement versus targeted treatments and interventions.