Development Trends of White Matter Connectivity in the First Years of Life
Author Information
Author(s): Yap Pew-Thian, Fan Yong, Chen Yasheng, Gilmore John H., Lin Weili, Shen Dinggang
Primary Institution: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
Hypothesis
How and when does the small-world topology and modular organization of the brain develop in early childhood?
Conclusion
The study found that the small-world architecture of the brain exists at birth and becomes more efficient as children grow.
Supporting Evidence
- The brain networks of all age groups exhibited small-world properties.
- Local efficiency was higher in pediatric brain networks compared to random networks.
- Global efficiency increased with age, indicating maturation of brain connectivity.
Takeaway
The brain starts off with a good way to connect different parts at birth, and it gets even better at doing this as kids grow up.
Methodology
The study used diffusion tensor imaging to analyze brain connectivity in 39 healthy pediatric subjects at ages 2 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the selection of subjects and the imaging techniques used.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize beyond the specific age groups and sample size used.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 39 healthy pediatric subjects, with 18 males and 21 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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