title: Functional Network Development During the First Year: Relative Sequence and Socioeconomic Correlations.
abstract: The first postnatal year is characterized by the most dramatic functional network development of the human lifespan. Yet, the relative sequence of the maturation of different networks and the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on their development during this critical period remains poorly characterized. Leveraging a large, normally developing infant sample with multiple longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans during the first year (N = 65, scanned every 3 months), we aimed to delineate the relative maturation sequence of 9 key brain functional networks and examine their SES correlations. Our results revealed a maturation sequence from primary sensorimotor/auditory to visual to attention/default-mode, and finally to executive control networks. Network-specific critical growth periods were also identified. Finally, marginally significant positive SES-brain correlations were observed at 6 months of age for both the sensorimotor and default-mode networks, indicating interesting SES effects on functional brain maturation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study delineating detailed longitudinal growth trajectories of all major functional networks during the first year of life and their SES correlations. Insights from this study not only improve our understanding of early brain development, but may also inform the critical periods for SES expression during infancy.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Sarael
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alcauter
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elton
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA Instituto de Neuroetologia, Universipaternal Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Castillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: J Keith
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Juanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012923:Social Class; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: first year; functional connectivity; functional networks; resting state