Development of Brain Network Topology in Infants
Author Information
Author(s): Gao Wei, Gilmore John H., Giovanello Kelly S., Smith Jeffery Keith, Shen Dinggang, Zhu Hongtu, Lin Weili
Primary Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hypothesis
The brain wiring efficiency will significantly improve from 3 weeks to 1 year of age and become more stable after 1 year.
Conclusion
The study reveals that brain network topology evolves significantly during the first two years of life, with improvements in wiring efficiency and resilience to targeted attacks.
Supporting Evidence
- The brain exhibits a small-world topology immediately after birth.
- Significant improvements in brain wiring efficiency were observed from 3 weeks to 1 year of age.
- After 1 year, improvements in brain topology appear more regional than global.
- Functional hubs in the brain evolve from two clusters in neonates to a more uniform distribution in 2-year-olds.
- Age-related improvements in resilience to targeted attacks were noted, particularly from neonates to 1-year-olds.
Takeaway
As babies grow, their brains become better at connecting different parts, which helps them think and learn more effectively.
Methodology
Resting state functional MRI was used to analyze brain connectivity in a cohort of 147 healthy infants aged 3 weeks to 2 years.
Limitations
The study did not monitor sleep stages, which could affect functional connectivity strength.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 51 neonates (27 male), 50 1-year-olds (27 male), and 46 2-year-olds (28 male).
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.32e-23
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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