Preterm birth alters neonatal, functional rich club organization.
Alterations in neural networks are associated with the cognitive difficulties of the prematurely born. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we analyzed functional connectivity for preterm (PT) and term neonates at term equivalent age. Specifically, we constructed whole-brain networks and examined rich club (RC) organization, a common construct among complex systems where important (or "rich") nodes connect preferentially to other important nodes. Both PT and term neonates showed RC organization with PT neonates exhibiting significantly reduced connections between these RC nodes. Additionally, PT neonates showed evidence of weaker functional segregation. Our results suggest that PT birth is associated with fundamental changes of functional organization in the developing brain.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. dustin.scheinost@yale.edu.
Dustin
D
Scheinost
Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Soo Hyun
SH
Kwon
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Xilin
X
Shen
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Cheryl
C
Lacadie
Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Karen C
KC
Schneider
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Feng
F
Dai
Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.|Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Laura R
LR
Ment
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.|Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
R Todd
RT
Constable
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology
Connectivity; Neonate; Network theory; Preterm birth; Rich club