title: Cortical multisensory connectivity is present near birth in humans.
abstract: How the newborn brain adapts to its new multisensory environment has been a subject of debate. Although an early theory proposed that the brain acquires multisensory features as a result of postnatal experience, recent studies have demonstrated that the neonatal brain is already capable of processing multisensory information. For multisensory processing to be functional, it is a prerequisite that multisensory convergence among neural connections occur. However, multisensory connectivity has not been examined in human neonates nor are its location(s) or afferent sources understood. We used resting state functional MRI (fMRI) in two independent cohorts of infants to examine the functional connectivity of two cortical areas known to be multisensory in adults: the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and the superior temporal sulcus (STS). In the neonate, the IPS was found to demonstrate significant functional connectivity with visual association and somatosensory association areas, while the STS showed significant functional connectivity with the visual association areas, primary auditory cortex, and somatosensory association areas. Our findings establish that each of these areas displays functional communication with cortical regions representing various sensory modalities. This demonstrates the presence of cortical areas with converging sensory inputs, representing that the functional architecture needed for multisensory processing is already present within the first weeks of life.
authors: Magnetic Resonance Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.|Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
authors: Chandler
authors: C
authors: Sours
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
authors: Prashant
authors: P
authors: Raghavan
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
authors: W Alex
authors: WA
authors: Foxworthy
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
authors: M Alex
authors: MA
authors: Meredith
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
authors: Dina
authors: D
authors: El Metwally
authors: Magnetic Resonance Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.|Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
authors: Jiachen
authors: J
authors: Zhuo
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA.
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Gilmore
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. amedinadejesus@peds.umaryland.edu.
authors: Alexandre E
authors: AE
authors: Medina
authors: Magnetic Resonance Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. rgullapalli@umm.edu.|Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. rgullapalli@umm.edu.
authors: Rao P
authors: RP
authors: Gullapalli
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012146:Rest
keywords: Intraparietal sulcus; Multi-sensory connectivity; Neonates; Resting state functional MRI; Superior temporal sulcus