Developmental Change in the Resting State Electroencephalogram: Insights into Cognition and the Brain

Resting state electroencephalography (RS-EEG) is a commonly used neurophysiological technique which provides a measure of brain activity when an individual is awake and not performing any assigned cognitive task. Because this relatively simple and non-invasive method is suitable for many ages and populations, a large and diverse literature has amassed. The focus of this review is to describe and synthesize RS-EEG literature across the lifespan while emphasizing the associations between RS-EEG and cognition. We also highlight contextual influences on RS-EEG, such as socioeconomic status and early deprivation. We conclude with a discussion of key insights into brain development and associated changes in cognition which we gathered during our review. We also identify gaps in the literature and areas of future research using RS-EEG that can advance our understanding of brain and cognitive development.