Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

668

A brain-age model for preterm infants based on functional connectivity

M Lavanga1,2, O De Wel1,2, A Caicedo1,2

  • 1Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, Box 2446, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.

Physiological Measurement
|March 30, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study developed a predictive age model for premature infants using electroencephalogram (EEG) functional connectivity. Brain network features accurately predict post-menstrual age, aiding in understanding infant neurodevelopment.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Understanding early brain development in premature infants is crucial for timely interventions.
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) functional connectivity offers insights into developing neural networks.
  • Existing predictive models for infant age have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the development of EEG functional connectivity in premature infants.
  • To create a predictive age model for premature infants based on EEG data.
  • To characterize the maturation of brain network topology.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed functional connectivity using coherency (ImCoh, MSC), phase locking value, and Hilbert-Schimdt dependence (HSD).
  • Analyzed EEG data from 30 infants with post-menstrual ages ranging from 27 to 42 weeks.
  • Employed graph-theory indices to investigate EEG coupling topology.

Main Results:

  • Observed significant decreases in ImCoh (θ, α bands) and MSC (β band) with maturation.
  • Found modest positive correlations between PMA and HSD, [Formula: see text], and MSC (γ band).
  • Achieved a mean absolute error of 1.51 weeks for PMA prediction with an adjusted R² of 0.8.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal brain development is characterized by a segregation of cortex connectivity.
  • Lagged-interaction network features effectively describe neonates' brain development.
  • The developed model shows promise for accurate age prediction in premature infants.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations06:34

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

17.0K
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

13.6K

Related Concept Videos

Functions of Connective Tissues01:17

Functions of Connective Tissues

Connective tissues perform a broad range of functions in the body. Their primary function is to connect and link different tissues in the body and act as packaging material between tissues. The areolar tissue, a connective tissue prototype, commonly cements various tissue types in diverse body organs. In contrast, adipose tissue cushions internal organs while insulating the body from heat loss.
Hard connective tissues, such as bones and cartilage, provide structure and support to the body.
17.1K
Exponential Functions with Base e01:30

Exponential Functions with Base e

Exponential functions with base e are essential for modeling continuous processes of growth and decay. The constant e, approximately 2.718, naturally arises in systems where change occurs proportionally to the current value. A positive exponent represents continuous growth, while a negative exponent represents continuous decay. These functions are especially useful for describing situations where change happens smoothly over time rather than in discrete steps.One clear example of exponential...
261
Aging01:26

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
801
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
7.5K
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
3.9K
Dietary Connections01:23

Dietary Connections

In biological systems, most metabolic pathways are interconnected. The cellular respiration processes that convert glucose to ATP—such as glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, and the citric acid cycle—tie into those that break down other organic compounds. As a result, various foods—from apples to cheese to guacamole—end up as ATP. In addition to carbohydrates, food also contains proteins and lipids—such as cholesterol and fats. All of these organic compounds are used...
62.2K