Altered functional network connectivity relates to motor development in children born very preterm

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Infants born very preterm (<32 weeks gestation) face higher risks of neuromotor impairments.
• Current neuroimaging methods have limitations in detailing the brain mechanisms behind these impairments.
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) offers potential for mapping developing brain functional networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between functional brain connectivity and motor skills in children born very preterm compared to term-born controls.
• To identify specific brain networks affected by preterm birth and their association with motor performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized low-motion resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 58 very preterm and 65 term-born children.
• Assessed motor skills using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition.
• Employed enrichment analysis to examine associations between functional connectivity and motor measures.

Main Results:

• Term-born children generally demonstrated better motor performance than very preterm children.
• Significant differences in functional connectivity were observed within cerebellar, frontoparietal, and default mode networks.
• Very preterm children showed weaker links between motor scores and connectivity in thalamus-motor and basal ganglia-motor networks.

Conclusions:

• Preterm birth has lasting effects on functional brain connectivity and motor development into childhood.
• Specific functional brain systems, including cerebellar, frontoparietal, and default mode networks, are crucial for motor development.
• Findings suggest preterm children may develop an alternative functional brain architecture for motor function.