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Amygdala functional connectivity is associated with social impairments in preterm born young adults

Christina B Johns1, Cheryl Lacadie2, Betty Vohr3

  • 1Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

Neuroimage. Clinical
|December 15, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth survivors show social impairments linked to altered amygdala functional connectivity. This study reveals potential neural underpinnings for these long-lasting behavioral problems in individuals born very preterm.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm birth survivors often face persistent behavioral issues, including social deficits.
  • The amygdala plays a crucial role in social functioning, and its alterations are implicated in various disorders.
  • Limited research exists on amygdala functional connectivity and its relation to social impairments in preterm individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate social functioning in adolescents born very preterm.
  • To examine amygdala functional connectivity in this population.
  • To explore the association between amygdala connectivity and social impairments.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Youth Self Report (YSR), and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) for social/emotional development assessment.
  • Employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze amygdala functional connectivity.
  • Included late adolescents born very preterm (600-1250g birth weight) and term-born controls.

Main Results:

  • Parent reports indicated greater social impairment in preterm-born adolescents compared to term-born peers.
  • Significant alterations in amygdala functional connectivity were observed in individuals born preterm.
  • Social functioning measures correlated with altered amygdala-PCC connectivity.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest altered amygdala connectivity is associated with social impairments in preterm survivors.
  • This study provides insights into the neural basis of social deficits following preterm birth.
  • Highlights the importance of understanding the developmental trajectory of brain connectivity in preterm individuals.

Keywords:
AmygdalaMagnetic resonance imagingPreterm birthResting-stateSocial development

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