title: Early Development of Functional Network Segregation Revealed by Connectomic Analysis of the Preterm Human Brain.
abstract: Human brain functional networks are topologically organized with nontrivial connectivity characteristics such as small-worldness and densely linked hubs to support highly segregated and integrated information processing. However, how they emerge and change at very early developmental phases remains poorly understood. Here, we used resting-state functional MRI and voxel-based graph theory analysis to systematically investigate the topological organization of whole-brain networks in 40 infants aged around 31 to 42 postmenstrual weeks. The functional connectivity strength and heterogeneity increased significantly in primary motor, somatosensory, visual, and auditory regions, but much less in high-order default-mode and executive-control regions. The hub and rich-club structures in primary regions were already present at around 31 postmenstrual weeks and exhibited remarkable expansions with age, accompanied by increased local clustering and shortest path length, indicating a transition from a relatively random to a more organized configuration. Moreover, multivariate pattern analysis using support vector regression revealed that individual brain maturity of preterm babies could be predicted by the network connectivity patterns. Collectively, we highlighted a gradually enhanced functional network segregation manner in the third trimester, which is primarily driven by the rapid increases of functional connectivity of the primary regions, providing crucial insights into the topological development patterns prior to birth.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Zhengjia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Xuhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Minhui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chalak
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Yanchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rollins
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.|Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D063132:Connectome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012146:Rest
keywords: connectome; functional connectivity; hub; preterm; rich club