Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), specifically the N100 component and the auditory steady-state response (ASSR), are used to assess patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), but their relative value is debated. In 30 DOC patients, the ASSR response was a more reliable marker of auditory function than N100. However, neither N100 nor ASSR, at response or microstate levels, could effectively distinguish between patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and those in a minimally conscious state (MCS). The role of ASSR was validated using a portable EEG device in an independent cohort of 30 patients. ASSR shows promise for assessing auditory function in DOC patients, but its utility in differentiating levels of consciousness may require further consideration.
Mindfulness training may help autistic individuals regulate emotions by altering brain activity patterns. In a randomized controlled trial, 39 autistic adults completed an affective attention task while wearing an EEG headset before and after either the Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) program or an active control therapy. Machine learning classifiers distinguished the EASE group from the control group with 88% to 92% accuracy based on post-training EEG features. Changes in theta and beta brainwave power, particularly in response to rewarding versus unfavorable feedback, differed significantly between groups. These neural changes were most pronounced in autistic individuals who showed clinical improvement from the intervention, suggesting mindfulness-based programs can modulate brain systems supporting adaptive emotional responses.