Resting-state networks in the infant brain.
In the absence of any overt task performance, it has been shown that spontaneous, intrinsic brain activity is expressed as systemwide, resting-state networks in the adult brain. However, the route to adult patterns of resting-state activity through neuronal development in the human brain is currently unknown. Therefore, we used functional MRI to map patterns of resting-state activity in infants during sleep. We found five unique resting-states networks in the infant brain that encompassed the primary visual cortex, bilateral sensorimotor areas, bilateral auditory cortex, a network including the precuneus area, lateral parietal cortex, and the cerebellum as well as an anterior network that incorporated the medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that resting-state networks driven by spontaneous signal fluctuations are present already in the infant brain. The potential link between the emergence of behavior and patterns of resting-state activity in the infant brain is discussed.
Fransson
Peter
P
Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm Brain Institute, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Peter.Fransson@ki.se
Skiöld
Beatrice
B
Horsch
Sandra
S
Nordell
Anders
A
Blennow
Mats
M
Lagercrantz
Hugo
H
Aden
Ulrika
U
D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D012146:Rest