Stability in Infant Frontal Asymmetry as a Predictor of Toddlerhood Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors

Stability in frontal brain electrical activity (i.e., electroencephatographic or EEG) at 10 and 24 months was examined with respect to maternal ratings of internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 30 months in a sample of 48 children. Children with stable left frontal EEG asymmetry during infancy were rated higher in externalizing behaviors by their mothers, whereas children with, table right frontal EEG asymmetry were rated higher in internalizing behaviors. These findings highlight the need to focus oil the early stability in physiological measures that may be implicated later in developing behavioral problems. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals. Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 158-167, 2010.