Effects of white matter injury on resting state fMRI measures in prematurely born infants
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Updated: May 9, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Christopher D Smyser1, Abraham Z Snyder, Joshua S Shimony
1Department of Neurology, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America. smyserc@neuro.wustl.edu
Insights
Very preterm infants with brain white matter injury show altered brain connectivity. This study links injury severity to specific functional changes, aiding future neurodevelopmental disability prediction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Cerebral white matter injury is common in very preterm infants (born <30 weeks gestation).
- White matter injury, including periventricular hemorrhagic infarction, can lead to neurodevelopmental disabilities.
- Resting state functional connectivity MRI offers insights into brain network development and injury impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain connectivity in preterm infants with moderate to severe white matter injury.
- To correlate patterns of aberrant functional connectivity with injury severity.
- To compare connectivity in injured preterm infants with controls.
Main Methods:
- Resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fcMRI) was performed at term equivalent postmenstrual age.
- Fourteen preterm infants with moderate to severe white matter injury (periventricular hemorrhagic infarction) were studied.
- Comparisons were made with preterm infants with mild injury and healthy term-born infants.
Main Results:
- Resting state networks were identifiable in preterm infants with white matter injury.
- Aberrant functional connectivity patterns were observed and correlated with injury severity.
- Significant group differences in functional connectivity were found between injured preterm infants, mildly injured preterm infants, and healthy term-born infants.
Conclusions:
- Resting state functional connectivity MRI reveals structural-functional correlates of preterm white matter injury.
- Observed connectivity alterations depend on injury severity.
- Findings have implications for understanding and predicting neurodevelopmental disability in preterm infants.
Abstract:
The cerebral white matter is vulnerable to injury in very preterm infants (born prior to 30 weeks gestation), resulting in a spectrum of lesions. These range from severe forms, including cystic periventricular leukomalacia and periventricular hemorrhagic infarction, to minor focal punctate lesions. Moderate to severe white matter injury in preterm infants has been shown to predict later neurodevelopmental disability, although outcomes can vary widely in infants with qualitatively comparable lesions. Resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging has been increasingly utilized in neurodevelopmental investigations and may provide complementary information regarding the impact of white matter injury on the developing brain. We performed resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging at term equivalent postmenstrual age in fourteen preterm infants with moderate to severe white matter injury secondary to periventricular hemorrhagic infarction. In these subjects, resting state networks were identifiable throughout the brain. Patterns of aberrant functional connectivity were observed and depended upon injury severity. Comparisons were performed against data obtained from prematurely-born infants with mild white matter injury and healthy, term-born infants and demonstrated group differences. These results reveal structural-functional correlates of preterm white matter injury and carry implications for future investigations of neurodevelopmental disability.
