Rest Functional Brain Maturation during the First Year of Life
Hervé Lemaître1,2, Pierre Augé1, Ana Saitovitch1
1INSERM UA10, Department of Pediatric Radiology, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Imagine Institute (UMR 1163), Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris 75015, France.
Insights
Brain development in the first year shows significant changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Key brain regions mature at different rates, reflecting cognitive development in infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The first year of life is critical for brain development, involving rapid structural and functional changes.
- Understanding the timeline of brain maturation is essential for identifying developmental milestones and potential issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure changes in resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) in infants during their first year of life.
- To investigate regional differences in brain maturation patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) to assess resting CBF.
- Studied a cohort of 52 infants aged 3 to 12 months.
Main Results:
- Global resting CBF significantly increased from 3 to 12 months of age.
- Early maturation was observed in primary sensorimotor cortices and the insula.
- Temporal and prefrontal regions showed substantial CBF increases throughout the first year.
- A late, synchronous maturation of prefrontal and posterior superior temporal cortices was identified.
Conclusions:
- Regional variations in CBF maturation indicate a specific timetable for functional brain development in infants.
- These findings correlate with observed cognitive development milestones within the first year of life.
- ASL-MRI is a valuable tool for tracking infant brain maturation.
Abstract:
The first year of life is a key period of brain development, characterized by dramatic structural and functional modifications. Here, we measured rest cerebral blood flow (CBF) modifications throughout babies' first year of life using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging sequence in 52 infants, from 3 to 12 months of age. Overall, global rest CBF significantly increased during this age span. In addition, we found marked regional differences in local functional brain maturation. While primary sensorimotor cortices and insula showed early maturation, temporal and prefrontal region presented great rest CBF increase across the first year of life. Moreover, we highlighted a late and remarkably synchronous maturation of the prefrontal and posterior superior temporal cortices. These different patterns of regional cortical rest CBF modifications reflect a timetable of local functional brain maturation and are consistent with baby's cognitive development within the first year of life.
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