title: Altered brain network topology in left-behind children: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: Whether a lack of direct parental care affects brain function in children is an important question, particularly in developing countries where hundreds of millions of children are left behind when their parents migrate for economic or political reasons. In this study, we investigated changes in the topological architectures of brain functional networks in left-behind children (LBC). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 26 LBC and 21 children living within their nuclear family (non-LBC). LBC showed a significant increase in the normalized characteristic path length (λ), suggesting a decrease in efficiency in information access, and altered nodal centralities in the fronto-limbic regions and motor and sensory systems. Moreover, a decreased nodal degree and the nodal betweenness of the right rectus gyrus were positively correlated with annual family income. The present study provides the first empirical evidence that suggests that a lack of direct parental care could affect brain functional development in children, particularly involving emotional networks.
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China; Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors: Youjin
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China.
authors: Meimei
authors: M
authors: Du
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China; Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Gao
authors: Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Xiao
authors: Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors: Chandan
authors: C
authors: Shah
authors: Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors: Huaiqiang
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
authors: Fuqin
authors: F
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China.
authors: Zhihan
authors: Z
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China.
authors: Yuchuan
authors: Y
authors: Fu
authors: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325035, PR China; Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China. Electronic address: lusuwcums@tom.com.
authors: Su
authors: S
authors: Lui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002670:Child, Abandoned / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007182:Income; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Brain network; Graph analysis; Left-behind children (LBC); Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (r-fMRI)